IMD fails to issue weather summary for first time in its 80-year history

An electric transformer located near the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) office at Shivajinagar burnt due to a short circuit on Wednesday, due to which it would not issue its regular weather bulletin.

The IMD sources said a transformer that supplies electricity was burnt due to a short circuit. Moreover, all the telephone lines of the five-storey building had also gone dead.

IMD director A B Mujumdar told UNI that the department was not able to receive data from other centres due to non-supply of electricity throughout the day.

The director said they would come out with the all-India weather chart only after power was restored.

The power supply was restored by 1800 hrs, but due to non-availability of the staff, the weather summary could not be made available to the media, the source added.

The Indian Meteorological Department went totally blank for the first time in its 80-year history.

Apple crop hit hard by adverse weather in Uttarakhand

Adverse weather conditions have hit hard the apple crop in Ramgarh in Uttarakhand.

The crop has been widely affected by the lack of rainfall and hailstorms during the time of flowering. Farmers believe that there is at least 75 per cent decrease in the crop.

The packing godown's that used to be bustling with energy this time of the year bear a forlorn look.

On an average 10 to 12 trucks of apples were sent from the area every day. But this year, it is only once or twice a week that a smaller vehicle ferries the packed apples.

The fall in apple production is believed to have a heavy impact on the economy of the state. Farmers are distressed as it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to survive.

Save water as monsoons giving away little

The recent downpour might have given residents a reason to cheer. However, an advisory coming from UT Meteorological Centre will cut short this rejoicing. Keeping track of climate changes taking place in northern region, weathermen, after studying the current pattern of monsoon, have advised people to 'save' water.

The precious asset, water, might soon be in short supply, if the water-laden cumulonimbus cloud continues to play hide-and-seek with the city and residents don't use it judiciously.
During the current monsoon season, till now, the city has received total rainfall of 77.6 mm whereas normal rainfall received, from June 1 to July 15 each year, is 272.1 mm. In the wake of 'volatile' monsoon, Met officials on Thursday predicted that less inflow of water in rivers would lead to shortage of power and the maximum damage of the prevailing dry spell would be borne by farmers.

"People should save water as this situation would lead to water shortage. Though rains will occur, regular heavy downpour isn't expected this time. After going through the rainfall data from various districts of the northern region, satellite images and national level forecast about monsoon pattern, we conclude that rainfall would be less than normal," said Chatar Singh, director, Meteorological centre.

He added that at present, Chandigarh has -77% deficit rainfall. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature recorded in the city was 37.2 degree C and the minimum was 27.6 degree C. The forecast issued by Meteorological centre stated that moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Himachal Pradesh, whereas light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places in Haryana and isolated places in Punjab. "There are less chances of heavy downpour in Chandigarh in the next 24 hours," another Met official added.

Stingy monsoon unlikely to get benevolent

The insanity prevailing in the political climate of the state for the past two days seems to have antagonised the weather also. The met department forecast on Thursday that possibilities of sufficient rains in UP are less in the near future because the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has gone weak and has also changed its course. As a result, some rains might occur in next two days in southern parts of UP situated adjacent to Madhya Pradesh, while rest of the state will have to contend with thundershowers that too in isolated place.

This is bad news for the state which is already reeling under a drought-like situation. So far, this monsoon from June 1 to July 15, the rainfall in the state has been 57% below normal. Average rain per district has been only 96 mm in comparison to 225.6 normal set for the period. The situation is bad all over the state but eastern parts are comparatively better than west. In east UP, average rains in this period has been 118 mm which is 56% below normal 249.1 mm. West UP on the other has on an average received only 75.7 mm rains, 60% below normal 191.5 mm. In Rampur, rainfall has been 80% below normal, the lowest in the state. Other districts among lowest rainfall category include Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Baghpat and Mahoba. Gorakhpur in the east is the only place in the state to have recorded above normal rains so far.

State met director JP Gupta said that the low pressure area which was formed over the Bay of Bengal was earlier expected to come towards UP and bring some rains but it has now gone weak and has taken a southward course, which means that the rainfall will occur mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Those areas of UP adjacent to Madhya Pradesh might also get some rain, he said.

However, he added, in rest of the state there are possibilities of thundershowers in isolated places. The Met director, however, also said that there was no need to be disappointed as fresh systems could develop after two or three days bringing rains in UP. Monsoon arrived 15 days late in UP this year and lost steam within two days. Since then, most parts of the state are going dry, causing extensive damage to Kharif crop. The state government has decided to wait till July 30 and review the situation before declaring a drought.

Source:: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

West coast heavy rains are due to "The off shore trough extending along the west coast".

Rainfall on 16-Jul-09:: Kozhikode-28, Karipur-21, Surat and Mahabaleshwar-15 each, Valparai-14, Mangalore and Madikeri-11 each, Bhopal-10.

(cont) south-west coast from south-coastal Karnataka to southern Tip is bracing itself for a heavy evening shower.. http://ping.fm/tYxHO

Latest satellite pic.:: shows Rain over Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan.

#Chennai - Same kind of cloud formations over us, like that of yesterday & day before yesterday. We'll keep u updated.!

#Chennai - A HOT day with patchy low clouds around... max temp. 37.5°C (1:26pm)