North India gets respite from sizzling heat

May 11 (PTI) Several places in North India today received rains which kept the mercury well below 40 degree celsius even as eastern parts, especially Orisssa, continued to reel under scorching heat.
One more heat-related death was reported in Khurda district of Orissa, raising the toll to 125 in the state this summer.

Talcher was the hottest place in the state, recording a maximum temperature of 46 degree Celsius followed by Angul (45.7), Sambalpur (45.4) and Balangir (45.2).

However, people in northern region got respite from the heat for the second day today as rains and squalls kept mercury below 40 degree Celsius at many places.

Delhiites too enjoyed relatively pleasant weather, with the maximum temperature recorded at 37.5 degree Celsius, almost three degrees lower than yesterday's maximum of 40.2, while the minimum was 20.6 degree Celsius.

Monsoon predicted date (20-May-09) may change..

Monsoon predicted date (20-May-09) may change due to the present moisture from the north-west called the western disturbance.

Going by the latest water vapor shot...

One can clearly view the push of moisture from the north-west. A DRY ridge can be seen between the two moisture systems. Comparing with previous (5 days back) water vapor images, one would have noticed a clear push of moisture from South-Arabian sea. Now as per today that moist air current from South-west has died down.

Even the cloud formations over the south-Arabian sea around 5th parallel has also disintegrated.

This may suggest a delay in monsoon. It may not set in over southern India as predicted before on 20-May-09.

"COLA/NCEP" predictions say that the monsoon will set in between 20-May-09 and 27-May-09.

Anyway we'll keep monitoring the various factors and keep the viewers updated.