Australia's drought-hit regions are expanding in the lower Murray-Darling Basin as key climate influences in the Indian and Pacific oceans tilt towards drier conditions.

Even as India Meteorological Department predicted deficient rainfall in July, Skymet, a private weather agency, today stuck to its forecast of "normal" monsoon in the month.

It's a great time to be a weather watcher if extremes or unusual events get your pulse running.

Britain experienced its hottest July day for 160 years on Wednesday as temperatures hit 36.7 degrees, surpassing even Mumbai in India.

Spell of sweltering weather expected to last several days as temperatures hit 40C and UN urges countries to develop better warning systems

Quantum of rainfall across country during June 1-29 is 182.5 mm

According to IMD, the country as a whole has received 19% more rainfall than the normal till now, which would help in increasing kharif sowing activities in the next few weeks.

The south-west monsoon has started showing the El Nino impact.

After plentiful rains in June, the Met department expects less than normal precipitation over the next two months and has advised the agriculture ministry to keep a contingency plan ready.