Monsoon advances in Kerala; Half of India reels under heatwave, temp continues to hover over 40 degrees in Delhi-NCR

The national capital reeled under scorching conditions on Sunday as the maximum temperature settled at 43.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average.

temperature continues to hover over 40 degrees in Delhi-NCR. (Getty images)

New Delhi: Despite the onset of the Southwest monsoon in the southern state of Kerala on Saturday, heatwave conditions are prevailing in north, north west and central parts of the country, with temperature continues to hover over 40 degrees in Delhi-NCR. The national capital reeled under scorching conditions on Sunday as the maximum temperature settled at 43.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average. The IMD has forecast heatwave conditions for Monday as well in the city with clear skies. As per the prediction by the weathermen, heatwave conditions will prevail in north and central India next week. They have aslo predicted "severe heatwave" in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan over the next two days.

Amritsar: People cover their heads and faces to beat the heat as heat wave conditions persists in the city. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/hYkRWReff2

— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2019

Meanwhile, in the southern state of Kerala, there was moderate rainfall in several parts of the state on Sunday, a day after monsoon arrived, even as a low pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea. The Meteorological Department said the low pressure was expected to intensify into a depression in the next two days and subsequently, into a cyclone. The weather report also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6-204.4 mm) in isolated places of northern Malappuram and Kozhikode on June 12.

Kochi: Rain lashed parts of the city earlier today after monsoon hit Kerala yesterday. pic.twitter.com/t09e6LIE5J

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2019

After a delay of a week, the monsoon hit the Kerala coast on Saturday, marking the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season in the country. This has also delayed its arrival in different parts of the country. A delay in the arrival of monsoon has pushed the country's rainfall deficiency in the first nine days of June to 45 per cent, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. (With inputs from PTI)