SW Monsoon not likely to withdraw: IMD
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted the withdrawal of the South-west (SW) monsoon from the Indian mainland in a press conference and condemned last week’s forecast of an early withdrawal of the monsoon winds from the country. Instead, the department announced the extended stay of the annual showers.
Talking about the extended stay of the SW Monsoon winds, IMD Director- General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said in the conference, “Even though we expected early withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, a cyclonic circulation over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal will shift the monsoon trough southwards around September 7. This will increase rainfall activity over central and north peninsular India.”
“Hence, conditions are not favourable for early withdrawal of monsoon,” he said, adding that the department will continue to monitor the situation.
IMD had predicted an early withdrawal of the annual monsoon winds on August 25, 2022, against the usual date of September 17. Though the country received 6 percent excessive rainfall this year, Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Tripura, and West Bengal experienced rain deficiency that affected the rice crops in this Kharif season.
According to Mohapatra, the surge in September showers can help compensate for the deficient rains in Western and southern Uttar Pradesh and parts of North-Northwest Bihar. Talking about average rainfall, he said, “Normal to above normal rainfall probability is likely over most parts of India except many parts of northeast India, and some parts of east and northwest India where below normal rainfall is likely.”
Meanwhile, “Some pockets of central and northwest India too are expected to experience above normal maximum temperatures and nights were expected to be warmer over most parts of the country, except some parts of Northwest India and South-Eastern parts of Peninsular India,” he added.
(Avya Mathur)
