Monsoon ahead of anticipated schedule in North India

Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that this year monsoon will hit 2 weeks ahead of the normal schedule. ‘It is expected that it can hit the northern parts of India including Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand within the next 2-3 days,’ predicted Met department.

The IMD has also stated that as per latest analysis, “conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into some more parts of Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh during next 2-3 days.”

Analysing the data of comparable statistics, Met department estimates that this year the rainfall in this monsoon till June 11 has been very good and well distributed as against last year’s data of same duration.

This year, the actual rainfall till June 11 in entire country was 30% more from the normal status registering 53.9 mm rainfall, while it recorded the maximum rainfall in northwest and central India respectively by marking 88% (27.5mm) and 87% (56.5mm), as per latest IMD released stats.

‘Delhi have received the highest rainwater in last 123 years duration in May 2008 as the Delhi Meteorological Department recorded 164.8mm of rainfall, compared to the normal 17.9 mm,’ sources said.

Illustrating the reason, IMD official said, “Global weather model is liable for advance of monsoon well ahead to its normal schedule over northwest India. It could by whole westerly system that have originated from Arabia see and moved normally towards eastern region covering north western India as it has been arrested by already existing higher pressure.”

“This year monsoon set in over south Andaman Sea on May 10, about 5 days earlier than the anticipated. It set in over Kerala on May 31, very near to its normal date (June 01). It advanced further rapidly and covered parts of south peninsula and entire north-eastern States by June 02. It reached Mumbai on June 07 (3 days earlier than normal date of June 10 for the city),” described the Met department of the beginning process.

“It maintained its rapid northward progression along the west coast and reached southern parts of Gujarat on June 10 (5 days ahead of the normal date). Northward advance of monsoon over east and central India has been near its normal time. Till June 12, it has covered West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and parts of east Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh. In the peninsula, it has covered entire Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.” IMD further elaborated.

In technical terms, Met department described, “By June 11, Northern Limit of Monsoon(NLM) passed through Lat 23°N/Long 60°E, Lat 23°N/Long 65°E, Okha, Rajkot, Surat, Nasik, Hoshangabad, Satna, Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Nautanwa.”

“Out of 36 meteorological sub-divisions, 30 sub-divisions have received normal /excess rainfall this year compared to only 13 last year.” said Met Department.

‘This year’s rain will be very beneficial for the ‘Kharif’ crop’, as per Met official said and it will provide great relief to the government, farmers and general public of the country as the entire India is upset from the spiralling prices of the food grains.

New 24-hour Weather Channel

India is also seeking for a good monsoon as all its effort to rein the skyrocketing prices has been failed so far and only a favourable monsoon carries hope of damping inflation by increasing agricultural production.

Meanwhile, the IMD has also announced to launch a 24-hour television channel to provide weather update that is likely to telecast by this December. It would be launched under the public-private-partnership model and will initially telecast programmes for six hours a day.

Regarding its content, IMD official said, “It will provide information on oceanic movement, temperature and rainfall and will also warn of natural disasters.”