A short but intense spell of pre-monsoon rain was recorded in several parts of the capital on wednesday. It brought down the maximum temperature to 34.2 degrees below normal. While the monsoon is still a few days away, India Meteorological Department forecasts the possibility of very light rain on Thursday as well. Another spell of rain is expected on June 19 and 20. Large scale atmospheric conditions are not favourable for further advancement of monsoon into Rajasthan remaining parts of Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. Howver, there could be slow progress into some more parts of Uttar Pradesh during the next five days in association with the existing cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh in the lower levels, said IMD's daily monsoon bulletin. While the Met Department had earlier forecast monsoon rains to reach delhi by june 15, its progress has slowed down considerably over the last hours. Little rain activity is currently occurring in west and east Uttar Pradesh. For Sunday we have a yellow alert at the moment. So far these are pre-monsoon showers, said Srivastava. The Met department forecasts parts of Delhi to receive a drizzle on thursday with the maximum likely to settle around 37 degrees. While no rainfall was recorded Safdarjung, Delhi's base station, Pitampura recorded 24.5mm of rainfall. One Wave Less for Delhi to worry about this year. Showers cool city, but it's not monsson. Pray hard or avoid minto road if it rains heavily this monsoon. The public works department may have promised a separate drainage system at central Delhi's Minto Bridge area, perhaps the most problematic stretch in the capital during every monsoon, but no progress has been made so far. Officials say they will install more suction pumps at the site and will stop vehicular traffic on the stretch if it rains heavily to avoid any untoward incident.
