IMD predicts heavy rains in coming weeks
Monsoon likely to stay strong for the next 10 days in north-west and central India, says the latest update
New Delhi: The monsoon rainfall deficit continues to shrink even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast more rainfall in various parts of the country and warned of heavy rainfall in some regions.
Seasonal rainfall is now just 5% below the 50-year average as monsoon rainfall has been abundant in east Rajasthan, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Gujarat, Konkan and coastal Karnataka.
IMD has issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall in the coming week in most of these places, and Odisha.
Private forecaster Skymet Weather Services Pvt. Ltd has also predicted plentiful rains in the coming week. “The weather system will continue to bring heavy rainfall over many districts of West Madhya Pradesh, East Rajasthan and Kutch during the next 24 hours. The system is likely to gain more strength and could also turn into a depression in the next 24 hours. We can expect heavy to very heavy rainfall in West Rajasthan and Saurashtra and Kutch during the next 48 hours," said a Skymet update on Monday.
Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, in its latest update, said the monsoon is likely to stay active for the next 10 days in central and northwest India. It added, however, that after 10 August, monsoon is expected to enter a break phase.
So far this season, 72% of the country’s area has received normal or excess rainfall and 28% is deficient. Rayalaseema, central Mahrashtra, Marathwada and Gujarat are some of the worst- affected areas in terms of deficient rainfall.
In June, IMD made a below-normal monsoon forecast and then further downgraded its outlook for the June-September season to 88% of the 50-year average, evoking fears of a possible drought year.
One of the main reasons for the poor monsoon forecast was the strengthening of El Niño, a weather phenomenon that leads to warming of waters in the Pacific Ocean, triggering atmospheric changes that affect rainfall in India.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!