Gurgaon: After days of hot and humid weather, the city is likely to see the return of monsoon showers from Sunday, with rainfall activity expected to intensify on July 20 and 21, according to the latest district-wise forecast issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD).On Friday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees lower than Thursday’s 37.1 degrees Celsius, while the minimum settled at 25 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees lower than the previous day’s 25.5 degrees Celsius.According to IMD’s five-day forecast, Gurgaon is expected to remain largely dry on Saturday, with only isolated rainfall likely on Sunday. Rainfall activity is then expected to increase significantly, with rain forecast at many places across the district on July 20 and 21.Across Haryana, IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at isolated places on July 18, at a few places on July 19, and at many places from July 20 to 22. It has also warned of heavy rainfall at isolated locations during this period.The district-wise forecast maps show rainfall coverage expanding across Gurgaon, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh and other NCR districts on July 20 and 21, while northern Haryana districts, including Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar, are likely to receive rain at most places.According to IMD, the increase in rainfall activity is being driven by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over north Haryana, the prevailing monsoon trough over the region and a fresh western disturbance over north Pakistan, all of which are expected to strengthen monsoon conditions over northwest India.Independent weather forecaster Navdeep Dahiya also predicted a strong revival of the monsoon over north India. According to his forecast, widespread rainfall is likely across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR and east Rajasthan from Sunday, with July 19 to 25 expected to remain an active spell. He estimated a cumulative rainfall of 100-150mm across Haryana and Delhi-NCR during the period. Dahiya, however, cautioned that heavier rainfall over the Himalayan states could increase the risk of landslides and cloudbursts.
