Early monsoon likely, heavy rain in Andaman soon: IMD HEAVY RAINFALL REDUCES B’LURU TEMP TO LOWEST IN MAY IN 10 YRS
NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon, which usually arrives in Kerala on June 1, marking the onset of rains critical to Indian agriculture and the rural economy, will likely arrive slightly early over Kerala, and, based on its current progress, is a week ahead of schedule.
It is already advancing towards South Andaman Sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal, and will reach these locations by May 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
Widespread light to moderate rainfall is likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next five days and isolated heavy rain from May 14 to 16, it added.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50kmph gusting to 60kmph is also likely over South Andaman Sea on May 15 and 16, it said.
The southwest monsoon normally arrives over Andaman and Nicobar Islands on May 22.
“Monsoon is expected to reach South Andaman Sea around May 15. It is on time because it is normally expected to reach Port Blair around May 20-22. Monsoon can always arrive 1-2 days early. Westerly winds had strengthened even before Asani had formed. Cyclone Asani was a transient system and the westerly burst helped it develop. Westerly winds strengthened further after it developed,” said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD. “In one-two days, we will also give the forecast for monsoon arrival over Kerala.”
IMD’S extended range forecast published on Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s monsoon page shows widespread rain over Kerala between May 20 and 26.
“Monsoon update: Good News! @Indiametdept extended range forecasts consistently suggest favourable conditions for an early monsoon onset over Kerala & its northward movement. Pl watch out @Indiametdept official forecast scheduled on 15 May for the exact date of monsoon onset,” tweeted M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences.
“IMD’S extended range forecast indicates slightly early arrival of monsoon over Kerala. But we have to wait for the statistical model forecast . Cyclone Asani has managed to pull the monsoon winds forward which can be seen in the satellite images also but now we have to see if the winds can sustain on their own. Let’s wait till remnants of Asani disaggregate,” said DS Pai, director at the Institute of Climate Change Studies, Kerala, and a former scientist at IMD.
BENGALURU: Heavy rainfall that resulted from cyclone Asani has brought Bengaluru’s temperature to its lowest in May in a decade even as more rainfall has been predicted for the next 48 hours.
On Wednesday, Bengaluru recorded a minimum temperature of 19.5°C and a maximum temperature of 24°C — the lowest in May in the past 10 years, according to the data released by the Bengaluru chapter of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The previous lowest maximum temperature recorded in the last 10 years was 33.8° C on May 2, 2015. The coldest day in May in the last five decades in Bengaluru was on May 14, 1972, when the maximum temperature recorded was 22.2°C, the according to the IMD data.
The city has received 255 mm of rain since March 1 — a 171-mm departure from normal.
“Bengaluru will continue to receive light to moderate rain till May 16. For next 48 hours, the sky will be generally cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 26 and 21°C respectively,” the IMD said.
IMD’S Wednesday data indicated a 9°C deviation in the maximum temperature from normal.