The International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) at the University of Columbia has said that there is a 40 per cent probability of above-normal temperatures breaking out over northwest India during February-March-April.
This is the lowest on a five-grade probable temperature value scale plotted by the IRI in its seasonal weather outlook for this year.
West Rajasthan and adjoining central India could be relatively higher probability (50 to 60 per cent) of above normal temperatures during this period. But elevated probability for above-normal precipitation has been indicated for the North (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Punjab, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh) through February to May.
The peninsular south is assessed as having the highest probability (70 per cent) for above normal temperatures during February-March-April.
This region would also have to contend with maximum possibility for below-normal precipitation during this period.
The trend is forecast to continue to hold as such during March-April-May, but probability for linearly regressive temperature values are seen over central India and to the further north.
Rainfall probability for the southwest coast (mainly Kerala) has been indicated to be below normal during this phase.
In what looks like a pleasant surprise, the traditional “hot plates” of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Orissa may not exactly heat up to those levels during March-April-May and April-May-June.
Rainfall probability has been forecast to be less than normal over coastal Orissa and adjoining coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal.
As for May-June-July, which coincides with the onset phase of the southwest monsoon, the IRI sees the peninsular south cooling, and the heating anomalies retreating to Gujarat and adjoining west Rajasthan.
ONSET PHASE
Precipitation, too, is seen to be normal for the entire country during the onset phase.
Similar forecast has come from Weather Trends International, a leading US-based private forecaster.
According to Dr Michael Ferrari, a forecast specialist with Weather Trends, initial signals indicate to “a better onset period”.
Last year's onset was delayed, and rains did not really pick up until later in the season.
But for 2010, the private forecaster sees a better start to the season.
“While the onset does look favorable, we are cautious when looking at the rainfall pattern for July through September,” Dr Ferrari wrote in his outlook statement.
“Looking ahead, we are not anticipating a recovery to a normal rainfall distribution for the entire season. Regarding a recovery in the Indian crop as a whole, we are looking towards 2011.”
Scientists with the Research Institute for Global Change in Tokyo have assessed that the prevailing El Nino conditions may have peaked and could give way to a late season La Nina during this year.
They expected precipitation trends through August and September to be likely influenced by the La Nina conditions in the equatorial Pacific that have traditionally favoured the Indian monsoon though without direct cause-effect relationship.
Meanwhile, an update from India Meteorological Department said on Friday that minimum temperatures continued to stay below-normal over many parts of east Uttar Pradesh, central, east and peninsular India and isolated pockets of Punjab. Cold wave conditions prevailed over many parts of Chhattisgarh and some parts of east Uttar Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh, north interior Karnataka, Punjab, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, interior Maharashtra and Telangana.
Amritsar recorded the lowest minimum temperature of -1.2 degree Celsius during the 24 hours ending Friday morning.
Forecast for the next two days said that dense fog conditions will continue in the morning hours over parts of Indo-Gangetic plains. Cold wave conditions would occur over parts of central and adjoining east India.
Minimum temperatures may increase over parts of northwest India. Isolated to scattered rain or snow will occur over western Himalayan region. Isolated light rain has also been forecast over Punjab and Haryana mainly on Sunday
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