By Avni Arya
Delhi: After a week of sweltering heat and rising humidity, Delhi is finally expected to get some respite as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rainfall over the weekend. The showers are likely to bring down the soaring temperatures and ease the discomfort of the city’s residents who’ve been battling relentless heat over the past few days. Delhi Rainfall Forecast and Yellow AlertAccording to the latest IMD forecast, a yellow alert has been issued for 5 and 6 July, warning of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across the national capital. The skies are likely to remain generally cloudy, with temperatures expected to dip to a maximum of around 33–35 degrees Celsius, compared to the 36.2 degrees Celsius recorded on 4 July. From 7 July onwards, rain activity will continue but may ease slightly, with very light to light rainfall predicted on 8, 9, and 10 July. Thunderstorms and lightning may still accompany these showers. With rainfall expected almost every day through the upcoming week, the maximum temperatures are forecast to remain under 35 degrees Celsius, offering considerable relief from the ongoing humidity and heat. Given the pre-monsoon showers and approaching monsoon system, residents are advised to carry umbrellas or raincoats when stepping out. The early onset of monsoon in Delhi is expected to keep the weather relatively pleasant, although occasional heavy spells might disrupt travel and cause waterlogging in low-lying areas. Heavy Rainfall Predicted in Other States Apart from Delhi, the IMD has also sounded an orange alert for several states on 5 July including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Goa, West Bengal, and coastal Karnataka. Particularly, regions in Madhya Maharashtra are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall on 6 and 7 July. Isolated heavy rainfall is also predicted in eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Rajasthan from 5 and 8–10 July, and across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir from 5–9 July. Jammu is likely to witness very heavy rainfall on 6 July.