New Delhi: After weeks of sweltering heat, the national capital received some respite as the maximum temperature in the city settled at 42.4 degrees Celsius after cloudy skies and thunderstorms. 


 Scorched by a heatwave, northwestern parts of India can expect some respite over the next three days as an extra-tropical weather system is likely to bring showers over the region with peak intensity rains forecast for Monday.


The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a wet spell over northwest India on May 23 and 24.

Thunderstorms, dust storms and gusty winds with a speed of 30-40 kilometre per hour would occur over adjoining areas of the Delhi-NCR, an IMD bulletin said, adding that light intensity rains are expected over isolated regions in the city.

As per a Skymet weather report, pre-monsoon rains may become slightly intense over Delhi and the National Capital Region on May 23 and continue until May 24, it said. Thus, temperatures may witness a significant drop over the entire Delhi-NCR, the IMD added.

The weather office has also issued a 'yellow' alert for May 23 and May 24.

Partly cloudy sky and drizzle are likely to keep the mercury in check over the subsequent two to three days, according to the IMD.


North India to experience moderate rainfall in 2 days


The weather office said light to moderate rainfall was likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, while Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were expected to experience scattered showers over the next two days.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast a fall in maximum temperatures by 3-4 degrees Celsius over most parts of Northwest India during the next three days and no significant change thereafter.

Isolated hailstorms were also likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and east Rajasthan over the next three days, it said.

The weather office has forecast fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura during next two days.

The south-west monsoon was expected to reach Kerala early next week, the weather office had said.


Mumbai


Central parts of Mumbai on Saturday received first pre-monsoon showers of the season with light rains reported in Dadar and Matunga areas.

The Maharashtra capital which faced one of its hottest summers this year was witnessing a cloudy weather since Thursday.

There were a few incidents of motorbike-riders skidding on the wet asphalt surface on the bridge connecting eastern and western sides of Matunga, police said.

The neighbouring Navi Mumbai city witnessed lightning flashes but no showers till late in the evening.


(with PTI inputs)