Monsoon withdrawal process still obstructed

The monsoon withdrawal process continues to be stalled along the Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat alignment.

But the dry nortwesterlies fanning into the Bay of Bengal have cut a trough across the Bay, held in place by two circulations over Assam and Meghalaya to the northeast and north Tamil Nadu in the southwest.

This trough coupled with an east-west shear zone (featuring opposing winds in the higher levels) over the south peninsula has been causing some weather in the region.

Global models suggested the trough would move closer to the coast and bring more organised rains into peninsular later during the week.

An India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said that the 24 hours ending Sunday morning saw fairly widespread rainfall being reported from Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the remnant monsoon circulation.

The rains were scattered over the Northeastern States, Madhya Maharashtra, interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Isolated rain fell over the western Himalayan region, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Konkan, Goa and Kerala.

Meanwhile, northwest India too is expected to witness its share of weather with the arrival of a western disturbance later during the week.

The IMD said that the westerly system would affect western Himalayan region and adjoining plains from Tuesday.

A forecast valid until Wednesday said that the remnant monsoon circulation would continue to cause fairly widespread rain or thundershowers over Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Fairly widespread rain or thundershower would also occur over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on Monday and Tuesday.

Scattered rain or thundershowers are likely over the rest of the Northeastern States, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.

Towards the south, scattered have been forecast over Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, south Andhra Pradesh, interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep.