With the entire state recording rainfall in excess of the average from July 9 to 15, the monsoon has finally given a reason to cheer for the
first time since its onset.
As per meteorological norms, if the actual rainfall is higher by 20% or more, then it is considered excess rainfall for the region. If the difference between the actual rainfall and the normal rainfall is plus or minus 19%, then it is considered as normal.
The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) weekly rainfall update, compiled on Friday, revealed that all the four regions in the state, including Marathwada, have received excess rainfall during the week ending July 15.
A comparison of the season's rainfall in the state from June 1 to July 15 showed that Marathwada was the only region in the state which had received deficient rainfall. All other regions namely Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan have got normal rainfall, as per their respective seasonal figures.
During the period July 9 to 15, Marathwada was expected to get 34.3 mm rainfall as per the average, but recorded 50.4 mm rainfall which is 47% more than its average.
Other regions like Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan (which also includes Goa) too followed the same pattern. Rainfall in madhya Maharashtra and the Konkan region was higher by 60 and 62% receptively. Vidarbha has recorded 30% more rainfall, IMD officials said.
According to statistics available with the IMD, Vidarbha normally gets 76.9 mm rainfall during the July 9 to 15 period, but this year it recorded 100.3 mm rainfall. Madhya Maharashtra, which witnesses 54.5 mm rains, has received 87.0 mm, while Konkan (including Goa) that usually records 227.3 mm rainfall, has received 367.7 mm rainfall during the same period this season.
"This is the first time in the season that the entire state has got excess rainfall. A good increase in rainfall was recorded due to favourable weather conditions," said Medha Khole, director (weather forecasting), IMD, while speaking to TOI.
Elaborating on the favourable conditions observed, Khole said the presence of a well-marked low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal resulted in good showers in the state. This system moved towards Maharashtra during the last week, thus increasing the rains.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
El Nino continues to develop
An El Nino continues to develop in the Pacific Ocean with sea temperatures above average, but other weather indicators are fluctuating, Australia's weather bureau said on Wednesday in its latest report.
"While El Nino indicators have fluctuated over the past few weeks, the overall picture remains one of a developing El Nino event," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
"Ocean conditions in the Pacific Basin remain at El Nino levels. Should they persist at such levels through the remainder of the southern winter and into spring, as predicted by the world's leading climate models, 2009 will be considered an El Nino year."
El Nino, meaning "little boy" in Spanish, is driven by an abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean and creates havoc in weather patterns across the Asia-Pacific region.
It is associated with drought conditions in parts of Australia and Asia and wetter-than-normal weather in parts of South America.
India this year suffered its worst start to the vital monsoon rains in eight decades, causing drought in some states.
The last severe El Nino in 1998 killed over 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage to crops, mines and infrastructure in Australia and Asia.
The Australian weather bureau said Pacific Ocean temperatures remained at about 1 degree Celsius above average and that cloud patterns and rainfall along the equator were now becoming consistent with a developing El Nino event.
However a major indicator of an El Nino, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), was running contrary to a normal El Nino development.
The SOI, which measures the pressure difference between the Pacific island of Tahiti and the Australian city of Darwin, was currently at a positive 12, while a consistently negative SOI indicates an El Nino.
The bureau said the positive SOI was due to a high pressure system near Tahiti and warmer than expected sea temperatures in the western Pacific and Coral Sea
"While El Nino indicators have fluctuated over the past few weeks, the overall picture remains one of a developing El Nino event," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
"Ocean conditions in the Pacific Basin remain at El Nino levels. Should they persist at such levels through the remainder of the southern winter and into spring, as predicted by the world's leading climate models, 2009 will be considered an El Nino year."
El Nino, meaning "little boy" in Spanish, is driven by an abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean and creates havoc in weather patterns across the Asia-Pacific region.
It is associated with drought conditions in parts of Australia and Asia and wetter-than-normal weather in parts of South America.
India this year suffered its worst start to the vital monsoon rains in eight decades, causing drought in some states.
The last severe El Nino in 1998 killed over 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage to crops, mines and infrastructure in Australia and Asia.
The Australian weather bureau said Pacific Ocean temperatures remained at about 1 degree Celsius above average and that cloud patterns and rainfall along the equator were now becoming consistent with a developing El Nino event.
However a major indicator of an El Nino, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), was running contrary to a normal El Nino development.
The SOI, which measures the pressure difference between the Pacific island of Tahiti and the Australian city of Darwin, was currently at a positive 12, while a consistently negative SOI indicates an El Nino.
The bureau said the positive SOI was due to a high pressure system near Tahiti and warmer than expected sea temperatures in the western Pacific and Coral Sea
Almost FULL of getting a break from Monsoon rains, except to the WEST coast, take a look . http://ping.fm/Zj2Ku
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