IMD says wait for monsoon may end in 5-6 days even as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh reel under heat

According to weather forecasting agency Skymet, Delhi is likely to see the arrival of monsoon on July 4 if conditions remain favourable. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

Conditions are favorable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into several northern states over the next five to six days, the IMD said on Sunday (Jun 28, 2026), even as the national capital recorded its hottest morning in two years amid delayed seasonal rainfall.

In a report, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said conditions are favorable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon to some other parts of the North Arabian Sea and some areas of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the next two to three days.

It is likely to continue its movement over some other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Southeast Rajasthan during the next two to three days.

However, it also warned of heat conditions – possibly severe – in Uttar Pradesh on July 28 and 29.

According to weather forecasting agency Skymet, Delhi is likely to see the arrival of monsoon on July 4 if conditions remain favourable.

Meanwhile, as the hottest morning in two years was recorded, Delhi’s minimum temperature settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius, 3.2 degrees above the seasonal average, while the maximum climbed to 41.8 degrees Celsius.

The last time the city’s minimum temperature was higher was on June 14, 2024, when it was recorded at 33.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the meteorological office, a heat wave was being implemented over Delhi and the “feeling” temperature at 5.30 pm, as calculated by the IMD, was around 50.7 degrees Celsius. But she predicted thunderstorms with rain on Monday.

Skymet said the delay in the onset of the monsoon and the interaction of dry and moist winds kept both temperatures and humidity unusually high.

“Normally, the monsoon reaches Delhi around June 27-28, after which temperatures start to drop and humidity increases. But this year, the monsoon is likely to be delayed by a week. Dry westerly winds from Pakistan are keeping temperatures high, while southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea are also reaching Delhi and increasing humidity,” said Mahesh Palawat.

“The interaction of these dry and moist air masses does form clouds, but there is not enough moisture for widespread precipitation. By the time cloud formation occurs, usually around 4 or 5 p.m., the maximum daily temperature is already recorded. Therefore, both the maximum temperature and the feeling temperature remained unusually high,” he said.

The Shimla Meteorological Center has predicted a wet spell in Himachal Pradesh till July 4, with a fresh western disturbance likely to hit northwest India from July 2 onwards.

Between June 30 and July 4, it issued a warning for thunderstorms and gusts of 30 to 40 km/h for an isolated place in the state.

Isolated parts of the state are very likely to witness a heat wave in the next 24 hours, the department said, adding that thundershowers/lightning accompanied by gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over eastern Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius, 3.8 degrees above normal, and a minimum of 19.7 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees above normal. For Jammu, the maximum was 37 degrees and the minimum was 3.8 degrees below normal at 22.5 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Office said that pre-monsoon showers over the plains of Jammu and adjoining areas were likely on June 29 and predicted intense heavy showers, thundershowers and gusty winds at several places.

Published – 28 Jun 2026 22:03 IST