Blistering heat wave continues unabated in most parts of North India including the national capital Delhi. The minimum temperature in Delhi remained four notches above average at 31.4 degrees Celsius. According to the Met office, the city will have a mainly clear sky during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 43 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature yesterday stood at 42.4 degrees, six degrees above normal. The maximum and minimum humidity oscillated between 47 and 21 per cent. The Met office has predicted that the much-awaited monsoon rains may arrive in the city this week. Monsoon missed its scheduled date of 29th June as the monsoon winds were not advancing from Uttar Pradesh.

Conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of monsoon over some more parts of central India and northwest India during second half of this week. The met department said, current meteorological conditions indicate increase in rainfall activity over east, central and northwest India due to development of seasonal east-west trough with embedded upper air cyclonic circulation. In its release, the met office has predicted rainfall at many places along the west coast and north-eastern states throughout the week. Rainfall activity would increase over east and adjoining north peninsular India where rain or thundershowers would occur at many places. Rainfall would also occur at a few places over south interior peninsula. Isolated rainfall would occur over northwest India during first half of the week which will increase considerably in the second half.