This year's French wheat crop is at 36.7 million tonnes, down slightly from 36.8 million in the year 2013, but good crop conditions meant there was scope to raise its initial estimate. Estimate was based on a projected yield of 7.3 tonnes per hectare, against 7.4 tonnes in 2013, and an area of about 5.02 million hectares versus about 4.98 million last year.
It is Monsoon season but there hardly seems to be any rain in Delhi. In the absence of rain, the weather in Delhi has turned so hot and dry that the city is facing heat wave condition. Some pockets of Delhi are reeling under severe heat wave, with maximums recording seven degrees above the normal average.
The week started off on a dry note in Delhi and looked like high temperatures will lead to some thundery build up but sadly that did not happen. Maximums rose from 40⁰C on Monday to 42⁰C on Wednesday. In the last 24 hours, the day temperature at the Palam Observatory recorded 42.4⁰C, which was seven degrees above normal. At Safdarjung the maximum settled five degrees above normal at 40.5⁰C.
Besides the heat wave, Delhi is also experiencing a hot day condition (minimums staying five degrees above normal). The morning minimum on Thursday recorded 30⁰C.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, a flow of dry and hot northwesterly winds led to an excessive rise in the temperatures across the city but maximums will not rise any further. However heat wave condition could continue to prevail for another two days. The rise in temperature may trigger some thundershowers during Monday. The rain will however, not be of much help in terms of relief from the hot weather.
“Rain in Delhi is expected on Monday due to a low pressure system formed in the Bay of Bengal. This system is likely to move inland into Central India and change the wind pattern from dry northwesterly to moist southeasterlies”, explains AVM (Retd) G.P Sharma.
Photo by Ritika Acharya.
Weather alert for Madhya Pradesh issued at 15.00 hrs
During the next 1 to 6 hours, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely in Betul, Bhopal, Guna, Hoshangabad, Indore, Khandwa, Khargone, Raisen, Ratlam, Sagar, Ujjain and Vidisha districts with strong winds ranging between 40 kmph and 60 kmph.
Weather alert for Rajasthan issued at 15.00 hrs
Light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely in Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Kota districts of Rajasthan with strong winds ranging between 40 kmph and 60 kmph during the next 1 to 6 hours.
Weather alert for Maharashtra issued at 14.16 hrs
Intermittent spells of rain with isolated heavy showers are expected in Maharashtra from 12th evening to 15th of July.
Weather alert for Uttarakhand issued at 14.03 hrs
Light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely at some places over Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Joshimath, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand during the next 2 to 6 hours.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Nowgong in Madhya Pradesh was the hottest place in India on Thursday with a maximum of 44.5°C. Churu in Rajasthan followed and severe heat wave conditions prevailed in several parts of Rajasthan, adjoining Haryana, Delhi, northwest Madhya Pradesh and some pockets of south west Uttar Pradesh.
Here’s a look at the hottest places in India on 10th of July-
| Places | State | Maximum temperature on Thursday in °C | Forecast trend for next 24 hours |
| Nowgong | Madhya Pradesh | 44.5 | Rise |
| Churu | Rajasthan | 44.2 | Rise |
| Palam | Delhi | 43.5 | Rise |
| Sheopur | Madhya Pradesh | 43.4 | Same |
| Satna | Madhya Pradesh | 43.2 | Same |
| Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh | 43.0 | Same |
| Agra | Uttar Pradesh | 43.0 | Rise |
| Banda | Uttar Pradesh | 43.0 | Rise |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan | 42.3 | Rise |
| Kota | Rajasthan | 41.6 | Rise |
In the last ten days of July, Mumbai received more than 500 mm of rainfall and according to Skymet, more heavy showers could lash the city during the next two days.
This year the month of June has been the driest in over a decade in Mumbai, leaving the city with a rain deficit of over 65%. The total of 87 mm of rain was the third lowest monthly total in last 63 years. However, July began on a very good note.
The Santa Cruz station so far has received 515 mm of rain, with 207 mm of rain recorded on 3rd July alone. Barring one dry day on the 6th of July, rain has been continuous in Mumbai.
In the last 48 hours, the Colaba station received heavy showers of 212 mm whereas, Santa Cruz recorded 97 mm of rain. And in view of good rain and a dense cloud cover, the maximum in Mumbai was 29.8⁰C on Thursday as opposed to 31⁰C on Tuesday. The minimum sustained at 24.6⁰C.
“Weather in Mumbai will continue to be rainy for the next 48 hours as the Monsoon surge has finally gained strength. Rain has been good so far but June left Mumbai with a huge rain deficit. Whether this month’s rainfall will fall below normal or not, is too early to be predicted right now”, says AVM (Retd) G.P Sharma.
The normal rainfall figure for Mumbai in July is 799.7 mm with an average of 23 rainy days. The lowest monthly total rainfall (July) in Mumbai was 628 mm in El Nino year 2012 and the highest was in 2005 when the monthly total reached 1454.5 mm.
Currently the rain deficit in Konkan and Goa is about 57%. In Madhya Maharashtra the deficit remains the highest at 70%. In Vidarbha the deficit is 68% whereas, in Marathwada it is 61%.
Central India, which has mostly been dry this Monsoon season, received some good rain on Thursday. East India too, particularly Odisha, observed fair amounts of rain.
A cyclonic circulation over north Andhra Pradesh, south Odisha and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal was the reason behind the rain in the region.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Gopalpur in Odisha received 53.5 mm of rain on Thursday. Other places in the state to have received rain were Bhubaneswar 13 mm, Jharsuguda 14 mm, Sambalpur 29.4 mm and Paradip 24.3 mm.
In Central India, rain was observed in Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha. Durg in Chhattisgarh observed 42.2 mm of rain, Raipur 26 mm Jagdalpur 14 mm and Pendra 10 mm. Akola and Gondia in Vidarbha received 37 mm and 5.2 mm of rain respectively.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh also received some good amounts of rain with Visakhapatnam recording 33 mm and Kalingapatnam 49 mm.
The system in the Bay of Bengal has just appeared and is in the process of getting organized. It is likely to move inland giving more rain to these areas in the next 48 hours. Telangana, Marathwada, and Madhya Maharashtra are also likely to be affected by this system.
Earlier, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, south Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha were observing heat wave conditions, which abated due to this system. And with rain being experienced in these areas, temperatures have dipped further making the weather comfortable.
Northwest India including Delhi is perishing under rising mercury and high humidity. Severe heat wave conditions continue in several parts of Rajasthan, adjoining Haryana, Delhi, northwest Madhya Pradesh and some pockets of south west Uttar Pradesh. On Thursday, maximum temperatures were 6-9 degrees above normal at Nowgong (44.5⁰C), Churu (44.2⁰C), Delhi-Palam (43.5⁰C), Sheopur (43.4⁰C), Satna (43.2⁰C), Khajuraho(43⁰C) and Agra (43⁰C).
Rajasthan, Gujarat and west Madhya Pradesh still haven’t been enclosed by the northern limit of Monsoon. The Monsoon line has reached north Rajasthan, touching Bikaner, but rain is yet to occur in the parched state. Southwest Monsoon generally covers west Rajasthan by 15th July, therefore cities here are just about 2⁰C above normal. But temperatures in places like Kota and Jaipur (both 7⁰C above normal) in the eastern side should have come down by now.
Rajasthan is still the hottest in the country, recording more than 40⁰C in cities like Kota (41.6⁰C), Jaisalmer (40.5⁰C), Jaipur (42.3⁰C) and Bikaner (41.6⁰C).
Day temperatures are rising above 40⁰C also in areas where Southwest Monsoon has already reached, like in parts of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Weather in Delhi
Delhi has been longing for good Monsoon rain since the declaration of Southwest Monsoon in North India. Temperature has been rising from 37⁰C on Sunday to 41.3⁰C on Thursday, due to lack of good showers. While maximum at Safdarjung Observatory was 6⁰C above normal average, Palam at 43.5⁰C was 8⁰C above normal.
There could be some relief from the scorching heat as Delhi is likely to receive light rain on late Sunday evening or next morning but Rajasthan and adjoining areas will remain parched.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the weather in Rajasthan and adjoining areas like northwest Madhya Pradesh and Haryana is expected to be hot and dry in the coming days, as the moist south westerlies are reaching only up to southern parts of Rajasthan.
