Monsoon In India: Many parts of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Madhya Pradesh are likely to receive heavy rainfall today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. On Monday, the sky is expected to be cloudy and the mercury level is expected to hover around the 27-35 degrees Celsius range in the national capital.

The IMD said conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into remaining parts of Haryana, Punjab and some more parts of Rajasthan during next 24 hours. While the seasonal trough across the northern plains is very likely to remain active during the coming 3-4 days, it added.

Widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy falls at isolated places are also expected over the southern districts of Uttar Pradesh and northern districts of Madhya Pradesh on 9 and 10 July, IMD said.

Rainfall in the region will bring respite to locals, who have been reeling under severe heat wave conditions in the past few days, especially with temperatures in Delhi and surrounding regions being constantly above 40 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, has forecast rains in the plains as well as low and middle hills, and snowfall in the high hills of Himachal from Monday till Friday. It has issued an 'orange' warning for extremely-heavy rains on Monday and 'yellow' warning for heavy rains on Tuesday.

The Met office issues colour-coded warnings to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather that has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.

Orange is for weather conditions that have the capacity to impact significantly, while yellow, the least dangerous of all the weather warnings, indicates the possibility of severe weather.

Heavy rainfall has also been predicted at isolated places over West Bengal, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Bihar.

(with inputs from agencies)