Monsoon likely to reach Delhi around July 10, most-delayed in 15 years: IMD

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New Delhi: The Southwest Monsoon will reach Delhi around July 10 this year, making it the most delayed in the last 15 years, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.

"The monsoon is likely to advance over remaining parts of west Uttar Pradesh, some more parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and Delhi around July 10," the IMD said in a statement.

The weather system is very likely to increase rainfall activity over northwest and central India from July 10, it said. According to Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, the monsoon had reached the capital on July 7 in 2012 and July 9 in 2006.

In 2002, Delhi received its first monsoonal showers on July 19. The city had recorded the most-delayed monsoon arrival on July 26 in 1987, he said.

After arriving two days late in Kerala, the monsoon had raced across the country, covering eastern, central and adjoining northwest India seven to 10 days earlier than normal.

But then, with conditions remaining unfavourable for its advance, the monsoon weakened and entered a "break" phase. The meteorological office had earlier predicted that the wind system may reach Delhi by June 15, which would have been 12 days early.

Normally, the monsoon reaches Delhi by June 27 and covers the entire country by July 8. Last year, the wind system had reached Delhi on June 25 and covered the entire country by June 29.

Delhi has received 43.6 mm rainfall against the normal of 75.7 mm so far a deficiency of 42 per cent, since the monsoon season started on June 1.

Central Delhi, which has got 89 per cent less rainfall than normal, is the second-most rain-deficient district in India after Kistwar in Jammu and Kashmir.