New Delhi, June 20: The "strong system" which is causing rains over Delhi and nearby areas, if persists, may cause an early onset of monsoon over the Capital than the usual date of June 29, weather officials said today. Several places in Delhi and adjoining Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have received pre-monsoon showers since last evening and the good spell is likely to continue for the next one-two days, Dr R C Vashishtha, meteorologist at the Indian Meteorological Department's Safdarjung office, said.


In Delhi, Safdarjung recorded 9.1 mm rainfall yesterday. Rainfall this morning was 77 mm, he said. The southwest monsoon has advanced upto Jodhpur, Ajmer and Bhopal, he said adding that conditions are favourable for its further advance.

The pre-monsoon showers in this part of the country had occurred due to cyclonic circulation system which was over Gujarat and south east Rajasthan yesterday and today moved to east Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh. This system had merged with another circulation system over up, he said.

The system had north-eastward movement and was feeding moisture to this region, causing rains.

Stating it was too early to say anything about monsoon onset over Delhi, he said if this system persists and moisture feeding continues, Delhi may see an early onset.


Already rains in June were better than those last year which saw only 48.4 mm rainfall at Safdarjung. This morning itself, the area received 77 mm rainfall. Rains in June 2001 were 128.3 mm while in 2000, 129.4 mm, he said.
More rains and thundershowers are expected in next two days. Temperatures are likely to hover around 34-35 degrees celsius, but humidity would be high, causing discomfort, he said.

Bureau Report