Monsoon breaks 108-year-old record in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Breaking a record of 108 years, monsoon on Sunday hit the national capital almost a fortnight ahead of the schedule.
    
"The monsoon has reached Delhi," Met Department Director B P Yadav said.
    
Heavy rains, accompanied by lightning in some areas, lashed the capital since 7.30 am. The Met has recorded a rainfall of 15.3 mm till 11.30 am.
     
The features of monsoon have been established over the region, the Met said. The normal date of onset of monsoon in Delhi is June 29 and its arrival two weeks earlier marks the breaking of a 108-year-old record.
    
The Met had earlier indicated that the south-west monsoon was advancing across the country in much more smooth and rapid manner as compared to last year.
    
The annual rainfall system had set in over south Andaman Sea on May 10, five days earlier than the normal onset and reached Kerala on schedule on May 31.
    
The capital, which is experiencing one of the coolest summers in the recent times, has received record showers in May, which is known for heatwave conditions.
    
The minimum temperature recorded this morning was 27.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, the Met said. The maximum settled at 33 degrees C on Saturday.
    
Rainfall during this season has been good and well distributed as compared to the previous year with 30 of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions receiving normal to excess rains.
    
Last year, only 13 meteorological sub divisions had received excess to normal rainfall till June 11.