New Delhi, July 3
The much-awaited southwest monsoon finally arrived today over Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab, four days after its official onset date. It further advanced into some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, the remaining parts of Punjab and Haryana and some parts of the north Rajasthan, bringing relief to people from soaring temperatures.

Met office said the monsoon showers were reported from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the northern parts of Rajasthan.

However, the existing current is not expected to have a long run. The northern plains will receive rains for the next two to three days. The intensity will decrease thereafter. A break of seven to 10 days is expected before the current revives.

A lot would depend upon additional factors such as frequency and intensity of the western disturbances (WD).

Head of IMD's Long Range forecasting division D Sivanand Pai said the monsoon had set over the northern parts of the country. “Rains will continue for the next two to three days and the intensity will decrease thereafter,” he added.

A lot would depend upon augmentation by WDs.

Northern parts of India are dependent upon WDs. The current monsoon rains occurred thanks to the support provided by a WD, which arrived over the northwest. Pai says the force of the WD and the situation of the monsoon current at that particular point of time will decide the intensity of rains over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and the rest of the northwest.

So far as el nino is concerned, so far its weak (which is good for monsoon) but it is gaining strength slowly.

Currently, the northern limit of monsoon (NLM) is passing through Veraval, Surat, Nasik, Wasim, Damoh, Lucknow, Aligarh and Bikaner. Conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into the remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh and some more parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh during the next three days.

Surprisingly, the western arm of the NLM continues to be stagnant at Veraval and Surat, western part of Gujarat, and Damoh, which is in the northeastern part of Madhya Pradesh, for more than two weeks now.