Delhi gets its 1st pre-Monsoon rains, mercury drops to 36 Deg C

New Delhi, June 15 (UNI) After a severe heat wave since the beginning of June, Delhi was today cooled down by heavy burst of pre-monsoon showers, the first in the Capital this season.

Moderate to heavy showers, which weatherman said could be the first pre-monsoon showers, hit Delhi this afternoon, plummeting mercury in the city to 36 Degree C, four degrees below normal, thus bringing about a sudden coolness in the weather in the capital.

The showers, which hit Delhi at 1330 hours, brought down the maximum temperature to 36 Degree C, from 38.4 Degree C yesterday.

A total of 52 mm of rainfall was recorded till 1730 hours, the met office said.

Weatherman said today's showers, which they described as an offshoot of the South Easterly winds blowing through the capital since the last few days, could be a forerunner of more such showers in the coming days.

As a precursor to the pre-monsoon showers, Easterly winds have been blowing through the city over the last few days.

With the influence of the Easterlies prevailing, more showers are expected to lash Delhi in the coming days. Infact, the weatherman have forecast more rain and thundershowers in Delhi accompanied by squalls in the coming two to three days.

They have also predicted a further fall in day temperatures in Delhi during the same period.

The scheduled date for arrival of the South West Monsoon in the Capital is June 29.

The Easterlies have, over the last few days, brought Delhiites tremendous relief from the severe heat wave sweeping Delhi since the beginning of June.

The met office has forecast a generally cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with rain and thundershowers accompanied by squalls in some areas. They have also forecast a maximum temperature of 37 Degree C tomorrow.

UNI