Late by 16 days, most delayed in 19 years — much awaited monsoon finally arrives in Delhi
The standard date for the arrival of monsoons in Delhi is June 27 and this is the first time in almost two decades that it has been delayed by a margin of 15 days. IMD terms its failure to forecast the monsoon in Delhi as a ‘rare and uncommon’ error. More details here.
It is reported that by 8.30 am, Lodhi Road meteorological station had recorded 19.4 mm of rain, followed by 2.5 mm at Safdarjung and 2.4 mm at Palam. Photo: Twitter
Bringing respite from the oppressive heat and humidity, the southwest monsoon finally arrived in Delhi today July 13 morning with people breathing a sigh of relief. The monsoon have been late in the national capital for 16 days — registering the most delayed showers in a 19 years. The normal date for arrival of monsoon over Delhi is June 27.
In its initial forecast on the monsoon on June 12, the India Meteorological Survey (IMD) had announced that Delhi would witness monsoon rains much earlier than its usual schedule on June 15.
In its explanation for the failure to forecast the monsoon in Delhi with accuracy, IMD stated in its press statement last evening (July 12) that the error is ‘rare and uncommon’. “Such type of failure by numerical models in prediction of monsoon advance over Delhi is rare and uncommon,” it said.
The monsoon rainfall had arrived in several parts of Rajasthan yesterday, on June 12, but the neighbouring national capital region’s anticipations for a cooling shower remain unfulfilled till today.
It is reported that by 8.30 am today, Lodhi Road meteorological station had recorded 19.4 mm of rain, followed by 2.5 mm at Safdarjung and 2.4 mm at Palam.
In its forecast for today, IMD has stated that thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate intensity rainfall (2.4mm to 64.4mm in 24 hours) and windy conditions with speeds between 24 to 40 kms /hour would be seen over Delhi NCR — Bahadurgarh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Loni Dehat and Noida along with Sonipat and Rohtak during the next two hours.
This is the first time in almost two decades (19 years) that it has been delayed by a margin of 15 days.
“Such type of failure by numerical models in prediction of monsoon advance over Delhi is rare and uncommon. It is needless to mention that IMD has predicted well with high accuracy about the advance of monsoon over Delhi quite accurately in the recent past years and also the advance of monsoon over different parts of the country during the monsoon-2021 accurately about four to five days ahead,” the met department said.
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“IMD is monitoring the situation continuously and will provide the regular updates on advance of monsoon into remaining parts of northwest India including Delhi,” it added.
Meanwhile, today, July 13, the southwest monsoon has covered the entire country. “… the southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of the country including Delhi, remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Thus, the southwest monsoon covered entire country on 13th July, against the normal date of 08th July,” tweeted IMD.