Cyclonic circulation may hamper monsoon onset over Kerala: IMD
3 min read 05 Jun 2023, 04:05 PM ISTPrevailing westerly winds over the southern Arabian Sea, extending up to 2.1 km above sea level may be conducive to the southwest monsoon settling over Kerala
PremiumThe formation of a low-pressure area in the Arabian Sea and cyclonic circulation will impede the progress of the southwest monsoon current into India's mainland, according to the India Meteorological Department's latest update.
The IMD said in its daily monsoon update that an established cyclonic circulation over the southeast Arabian Sea has led to more organized and concentrated cloud mass in the area, with a decrease in cloud cover off the Kerala coasts in the past 24 hours.
"Under the influence of this cyclonic circulation, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region during the next 24 hours, which is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify into a depression over the southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea during subsequent two days. Due to formation and intensification of this system and its near north-ward movement likely to influence critically advance of southwest monsoon towards Kerala coast," IMD said.
The IMD also said prevailing westerly winds over the southern Arabian Sea, extending up to 2.1 km above sea level, may be conducive to the southwest monsoon settling over Kerala.
According to IMD’s first monsoon forecast in early May, the onset over Kerala is likely to be on 4 June with an error margin of four days. The southwest monsoon that typically sets in over Kerala on 1 June missed its onset date on Sunday.
The crucial southwest monsoon starts its journey into the Indian subcontinent from the Kerala coast around 1 June with a standard deviation of about seven days. Monsoon rainfall is critical for agriculture production, with 52% of the net cultivated area relying on it. It is also crucial for the replenishing of reservoirs critical for drinking water apart from power generation across the country. The agricultural sector accounts for about 18% of the economy and is the largest employer.
The weather department has predicted a normal rainfall during this season despite the evolving El Nino conditions. Northwest India is expected to see normal to below normal rainfall. East and northeast, central, and south peninsula are expected to receive normal rainfall at 94-106% of the long-period average of 87 centimetres.
Rainfall between 96 and 104% of a 50-year average of 87 cm is considered ‘normal’.
The weather bureau is continuously monitoring the progress of monsoon arrival and will provide further updates on monsoon and the new weather system, it said.
“We have already crossed the normal onset date of monsoon over Kerala. Pre-monsoon rains have already started over Kerala, interior Tamil Nadu, and South Karnataka. Rain activities over Kerala may intensify further marking the onset of monsoon in the next twodays," private forecaster Skymet said. “Monsoon onset will not have a thumping start over Kerala due to formation of a low-pressure area over Southeast Arabian Sea around June 6 or 7 and will gradually intensify into a depression. The weather system over the Arabian Sea will restrict the flow of south-westerly winds over the Indian mainland. These south-westerly winds are responsible for the further progress of monsoon over the interior Peninsula," Skymet informed.
Skymet has forecast southwest monsoon to set in over Kerala coast on 7 June with an error margin of three days.
“There are currently three favourable conditions for monsoon onset over Kerala. However, things will be clear after 48 hours," Mahesh Palawat, vice president, meteorology and climate change at Skymet told Mint. After the onset over Kerala, monsoon may continue in the border areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra. However, the arrival of monsoon in South Peninsular and Central India is seen to be delayed by 8-10 days."
If monsoon is delayed, farmers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat may go sowing kharif crops late. Maharashtra grows Soybean, Tur (arhar), Urad (black gram), Groundnut, Maize (corn) and sugarcane in the kharif season, while Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat cultivate rice, soybean, jowar, maize, groundnuts, tur and urad.
Predicting arrival of monsoon in northwest India right now is difficult as the southwest monsoon has not made its onset over Kerala yet, Palawat said.
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