A severe heat wave scorched parts of Delhi on June 29 as the monsoon continued to play truant. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung Observatory rose to 43 degrees Celsius, the highest this year so far. A heat wave is predicted in the capital on June 30 too. According to the India Meteorological Department, this is the first heat wave in this summer season. A severe heat wave seared Lodhi Road, Ridge and Pusa areas, where the mercury soared to 42.6 degrees Celsius, 43.4 degrees Celsius and 44.3 degrees Celsius, respectively, seven notches above the average temperature. Najafgarh (44.4 degrees Celsius), Pitampura (44.3 degrees Celcius) and Mungeshpur (44.3 degrees Celsius) also reeled under a severe heat wave. As per the IMD, the southwest monsoon has reached Barmer in west Rajasthan, one of its last outposts, two weeks before its normal schedule but is yet to arrive in the north Indian plains including Delhi. The northern limit of southwest monsoon (NLM) continues to pass through Barmer, Bhilwara, Dholpur, Aligarh, Meerut, Ambala and Amritsar, it said. After arriving two days late in Kerala, the monsoon had raced across the country, covering eastern, central and adjoining northwest India seven to 10 days earlier than normal. Watch the video to know more.