Another hot day in Delhi, mercury rises to 40.4 degrees Celsius

New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) It was another hot day here today with the humidity levels rising to 75 per cent even as the first monsoon showers continued to elude the capital, more than a week after the scheduled date of arrival.

Though clouds, which weathermen say, are an offshoot of the movement of monsoon towards Delhi, continued to hover, they were interspersed by periods of bright sunlight.

The scorching heat, coupled with high humidity led to perspiring conditions, resulting in the rise of the maximum temperature to 40.4 degrees Celsius while the minimum rose to 27.2 degrees Celsius.

Adding to the discomfort was the absence of Easterly winds which had provided some relief from hot during the past two days.

Weathermen attributed the slight delay in the arrival of monsoon to a weakening of the system during its movement towards Northwest India. According to the met office, the well marked low pressure area that had build up over southwest Madhya Pradesh on July 5, has further weakened and now lies over south Rajasthan as a feeble low pressure area.

They said that with the feeble low pressure area over south Rajasthan becoming less marked, the seasonal trough has shifted close to foothills of Himalayas.

Under this, rainfall activity is likely to remain subdued over many parts of the country except over northeastern states, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Bihar and adjoining foothills of central Himalayas where it is likely to enhance during next four to five days.

For Delhi, the met office has forecast a generally cloudy sky with rain and thundershowers in some areas during the next 24 hours.

Also, they have predicted heavy showers showers on Sunday.

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