The rain gods will shower their munificence over the city in a leisurely manner this week, teasing the residents with a few short spells but making them wait for downpour.

Expected to enter the state within the next 48 hours, the monsoon will be weak to begin with, thanks to the cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal that will divert the heavy showers to Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The high humidity (around 52 per cent on Tuesday) would also trouble the residents at least till June 16.

“Monsoon will reach Bihar within the next 22 to 48 hours but it will be weak. The cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal will divert the moisture to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar,” said Ashish Sen, director, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Patna, on Tuesday.

The usual date for the arrival of monsoon in the state is June 13. But for the past four years, it has been arriving late steadily.

Even after a late arrival, the rain clouds will not unleash their full force on the city or the state at least till June 16.

“The rainfall will be sporadic. Only after June 16 the state will get adequate rain,” said Sen.

The protracted wait for the rains, however, is making the residents restless. “It is very difficult to endure such high humidity. Unless one has an air-conditioner, it is very difficult to stay at home. A cooler is of no use,” said Brajesh Kumar, a resident of Buddha Colony.

Others are venturing out of home to seek cool air and greenery at the zoo.

“It is impossible to stay at home in this weather. So we came to the zoo to get fresh and cool air,” said Prakash Kumar, a resident of Gardanibagh.

He added: “This is the only place in Patna where there are many trees and enough greenery. But even then, there is no respite from the humidity and sweating. Unless there is a downpour, we would keep sweating like this.”

Met department officials claimed that high humidity was common in the run-up to monsoon.

“Such weather conditions are quite normal before the onset of monsoon. Residents would have to tolerate the high humidity till June 16,” said IMD, Patna, director Sen.

Meteorological reassurances are, however, no comfort for the residents. Combined with the high temperature, it has made life difficult for them.

They have started taking sufficient measures to keep ill health at bay.

Raja Bazaar resident Mukesh Ranjan had taken his sons to drink coconut water so that they do not get dehydrated.

“We shall be refreshed after drink the cool coconut water. We have to make do with it till the rains arrive,” he said.