Jaipur: Weak southwest monsoon activity across Rajasthan pushed up daytime temperatures Sunday, with Phalodi becoming the only station to cross the 40 C mark as rainfall remained confined to isolated pockets. The Jaipur Meteorological Centre has forecast subdued monsoon conditions for the next week, allowing temperatures to rise further before a likely revival around July 20.The Met office attributed the lull in rainfall to prevailing synoptic conditions, including the absence of a strong monsoon circulation and the influence of upper-air systems, which prevented widespread rain-bearing activity over the state.“By and large, monsoon activity is likely to remain weak for the next one week. Good monsoon activity is expected to revive from July 20 onwards,” a Jaipur Met office official said.With little cloud cover and prolonged sunshine, western Rajasthan remained largely dry, while eastern districts witnessed only scattered light showers. The weak monsoon phase has also increased humidity levels, making conditions uncomfortable in many parts of the state despite temperatures remaining below peak summer levels.Phalodi was the hottest place in Rajasthan at 41 C, followed by Jaisalmer at 39 C, Churu at 38.5 C, Bikaner at 38.1 C, and Alwar and Sri Ganganagar at 38 C each. Pali and Jawai Dam recorded maximum temperatures of 35.2 C each, while Mount Abu remained the coolest place in the state at 25.4 C.In Jaipur, the maximum temperature settled at 35.2 C and the minimum at 27.6 C, both above normal for this time of the year. The city is expected to witness partly cloudy skies over the next 24 hours, with only a negligible possibility of rainfall.According to the Met office, the weakening of the monsoon circulation has significantly curtailed rainfall activity, particularly over western Rajasthan, leading to stronger solar heating and a gradual rise in daytime temperatures. While isolated light showers cannot be ruled out, widespread rainfall is unlikely during the coming week.Meteorologists expect monsoon activity to strengthen from around July 20, with the development of a fresh weather system over the Bay of Bengal, which could bring widespread rainfall across Rajasthan and provide relief from the prevailing warm and humid conditions.
