Weather continues to remain dry as rains eluded most parts of Northern India on Wednesday. The mercury also rose in most parts of the region owing to absence of rainfall. In the national capital minimum temperature this morning was three degrees above normal, while the maximum yesterday settled two degrees above average at 36.5 degrees.The Met department however predicts fairly widespread rainfall in north and north western regions during the next couple of days. Delhi is also expected to receive moderate rainfall. Weatherman says that the southwest monsoon is not likely to start retreating before the 20th of this month.