PHOTOS: Monsoon arrives a day early in Delhi

Delhiites woke up to a rain soaked pleasant morning on Thursday which brought down the temperature to 22.4° Celsius, six notches below the season's average.

A commuter prepares to park his scooter as his passenger holds an umbrella during a heavy rain shower in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Rainfall measuring 20.7 mm lashed parts of the capital until 8.30 am and humidity in the air was recorded at 93 per cent, a MeT official said.

The weatherman has predicted that light rains might continue throughout the day.

"The sky will be mainly clear with possibilities of light rain and thundershowers through the day," the official said.

Roadside eatery hawkers use a plastic sheet to cover themselves from a rain shower in front of India Gate in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

The Met department on June 22 had forecast that monsoon was likely to hit Delhi by June 26.

The maximum temperature is expected to be 36.8 degrees Celsius, same as Wednesday.

Commuters take shelter under trees during a heavy rain shower in New Delhi, India. This year's monsoon rains in India are officially forecast to be only 88 percent of the long-term average. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

On Wednesday, the minimum temperature was recorded two notches below the normal at 25.8° Celsius.

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