Weather alert! Monsoon is here in Kerala - When will you get respite from scorching heat? IMD says this

Even as monsoon has hit the Kerala coast today, after a delay of a week, heatwave conditions are likely to persist in north and central India in coming days, and the national capital also seems to have no relief from sultry weather. A meteorological department official has predicted clear sky for the rest of the day in Delhi, along with heat wave conditions at isolated places for the next two days, a PTI report said.

The weather station at Safdarjung reportedly recorded minimum temperature at 28 degrees Celsius at 8:30 am, which is normal for this time of the year, and humidity levels at 56 per cent. The city is likely to record a high of 43 degrees Celsius. Private forecaster Skymet Weather, however, predicted that the mercury could touch the 46-degree mark.

On Friday, India Meteorological Department stated that heatwave conditions would continue in north and central India next week, while predicting a "severe heatwave" in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Vidarbha in Maharashtra from Saturday till Tuesday.

PTI quoted IMD as saying "Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, north Chhattisgarh and south Uttar Pradesh on most of the days during (the next one) week." 

Further, IMD stated that the severity of the heat over eastern India could also increase, therefore, the heatwave zone could extend towards interior Odisha, north-coastal Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar during this period.

Notably, the region in north India and central India have been witnessing intense heating, with the mercury soaring over 50 degrees in some places of Rajasthan. 

Meanwhile, PTI reported that monsoon has hit the Kerala coast on Saturday, marking the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season in the country. It quoted India Meteorological Department's Director General-designate Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, as saying "Monsoon has made an onset over Kerala today (June 8)." 

Several parts of Kerala have reportedly started receiving a good amount of rainfall, and the news will augur well for the nation as large parts have been witnessing agriculture distress, while water levels in reservoirs in west and south India have dipped to low levels.

Since most of rural India depends on the four-month monsoon season, which accounts for 75 per cent of the annual rainfall, a good monsoon will have a direct impact on the economy as agriculture remains the major contributor to the country's GDP.