The chief of the Indian Meteorological Department, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, announced today at a media briefing that there’s a likelihood of above-normal rainfall during the upcoming monsoon season across the nation, providing a much-needed respite from the prevailing heatwave. Mohapatra stated, “The South West Monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 106% of the long-period average with a model error of 4%. Thus, above-normal rainfall is most likely over the country as a whole.”
This forecast aligns with earlier predictions of heightened rainfall this monsoon, driven by favorable La Nina conditions anticipated to manifest between August and September.
The Indian Meteorological Department anticipates a decline in the ongoing heatwave across India starting from May 30, although it issued warnings regarding severe heatwave conditions prevailing over northwest India for the next three days. Earlier alerts had been released for Delhi and Rajasthan due to temperatures soaring to 50 degrees Celsius in specific areas.
Attributing the recent heatwave in northwest India and certain parts of the central region to various factors, including deficient rainfall, intensified dry and warm winds, and the presence of an anti-cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat, the IMD has been closely monitoring the situation.
Additionally, the IMD’s projections indicate the onset of western disturbances over northwest India starting Thursday, coinciding with the transition of El Nino conditions to a neutral state.
In the wake of Cyclone Remal’s landfall in Bangladesh last night, coastal Bengal is expected to experience heavy rainfall today, while the northeast region will likely witness extremely heavy rainfall until tomorrow, according to forecasts from the Meteorological Office.
