Progress of monsoon sluggish, but city sees 84% surplus rain

GURGAON: The city has recorded surplus rains so far this month — almost double (84%) the normal level for this time of the year — as an effect of multiple western disturbances even as monsoon’s trajectory in the country is slower than usual.

According to readings by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gurgaon received 44.1mm of pre-monsoon rains till June 22. The city’s normal for the month is 24mm, and it ended June 2022 with a 20% rain deficit (37.8mm).
The onset of monsoon in Haryana is usually between June 27-30. In 2022, Gurgaon saw its first spell of monsoon showers on June 30.
This year, though, the Southwest Monsoon’s arrival in India was delayed, and its pattern and progress sluggish since the formation of cyclone Biporjoy over the Arabian sea. But meteorologists say the weather system should be on track to reach NCR in the next few days.
“Because of frequent western disturbances over western Himalayan region, the city has seen surplus pre-monsoon showers. After a slow start to monsoon, the conditions are favourable for further advancement and the system could reach Haryana by the end of this month, which is in range of normal onset date,” an IMD official said on Thursday.
Monsoon has so far covered south India, parts of eastern and northeastern India.
“Monsoon arrival in Kerala is normally on June 1, but the onset was June 8 this time. The formation of Biporjoy over the Southeast Arabian Sea obstructed the flow of south westerly winds over the mainland. Now, the moisture-laden winds will move towards northwestern parts of the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttarakhand. We are expecting monsoon may reach Delhi-NCR in the next 4-5 days,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of private weather forecaster Skymet Weather.
Min temp up by 4C
On Thursday, skies were overcast but the minimum temperature rose over four notches in a day.
The lowest that the mercury fell to was 27.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, 4.2 degrees Celsius above Wednesday’s 23.6 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature — at 37.1 degrees Celsius — was 1.9 degrees Celsius higher than the day before. Relative humidity ranged between 54% and 100% on Thursday. IMD has forecast heavy rains in parts of Haryana on June 25 and June 26, with yellow alert (to look out) issued for several parts of the state, including Gurgaon, over the next four days.
The Met department expects Friday to be defined by partly cloudy skies, with the minimum temperature likely to be 29 degrees Celsius, and maximum at 37 degrees Celsius, respectively.