No respite from heat wave for North and Central India

PUNE: Even as a 'weak' monsoon continued its slow progress northward, there will be no respite from heat-wave conditions for people in north and central India for the next few days, the India Meteorology Department ( IMD) said in its weather bulletin.

Maximum temperatures in many places in north, north-west and central India were between 47 degree Celsius and 48 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature in Delhi (Palam) was 47.2 degree Celsius on Friday. The IMD has forecast that the heat-wave conditions in these areas will continue for next two to three days.

The south-west monsoon, which hit the Kerala coast on Friday, advanced into most parts of Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu. Conditions are becoming favourable for its advance into some parts of south Karnataka and more of Tamil Nadu. But meteorologists said the monsoon current is not "vigorous", which does not augur well for rainfall. Currently, there are some weather systems, which are acting as a hurdle for the monsoon to be vigorous, said the meteorologists who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), in its forecast for the next 20 to 25 days has said that the monsoon will be over peninsular India over next 25 days. "The rainfall will be mainly confined to west coast, north-east India and south peninsula," says the IITM forecast.