As the arrival of Southwest Monsoon has been delayed by almost a week than its projected arrival of June 10, Mumbaikars will have to wait till June 21 for a satisfactory ‘wide spread’ rainfall.
As the arrival of Southwest Monsoon has been delayed by almost a week than its projected arrival of June 10, Mumbaikars will have to wait till June 21 for a satisfactory ‘wide spread’ rainfall. Weather experts confirmed the delay, resulting in the 43 per cent deficiency than the average rainfall in the month of June, could probably affect the claims of Indian Meteorological Department of above average rainfall in 2016.
Experts have cited a number of reasons that have caused the delay in arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in Maharashtra. Among them, cyclonic circulation, brewing in west-central Bay of Bengal, which is yet to move inland in west direction by June 18, is one of the main reasons for the delay. Sluggish movement of the western arm of the monsoon that is yet to strike the city is another reason causing the delay of the monsoon.
IMD forecast has pointed out that even after the delay in the arrival of the monsoon, conditions are favourable for its further advance into Marathwada, central Maharashtra, Konkan and Vidarbha. “Monsoon is likely to advance over some more parts of east India and some parts of central India during subsequent three to four days,” said an IMD official.
At the same time, weather experts, pointing out the IMD’s update of overall fall in cumulative rainfall average, have said that it can probably affect the prediction of above average rainfall in 2016. While four regions of Maharashtra, have reported rainfall deficiency, apart from Marathwada, that has received relatively better rainfall, Konkan and Goa region has reported a loss of 32 per cent of rainfall, central Maharashtra 22 per cent and Vidarbha has reported 46 per cent of rainfall deficiency than the average expected rainfall this year.
“For Mumbai, June has always reported heavy rainfall at an average of 523.1mm, which fell to 43.1mm this year. To balance the deficiency, we will need subsequent days of heavy rainfall to match the prediction of above average rainfall of 2016. But looking at the sub par conditions of Southwest Monsoon as of now, it will be difficult to predict if the rains will be able to match the prediction,” said G.P. Sharma, a weather expert from Skymet weather laboratory.
