‘Above normal’ rainfall to ensure many parts of India aren’t hotter than usual | India News
New Delhi: Many parts of the country may not be hotter than normal this month due to ‘above normal’ rainfall, but some states, especially in the Himalayan foothills such as South Himachal and Uttarakhand, along the east coast and parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat, may experience ‘above normal’ heat waves, with additional heatwaves from Friday to May 8.The meteorological department has predicted warm nights (above normal minimum temperatures) in many parts of the country, a phenomenon IMD chief Mruthinjay Mohapatra said is linked to climate change.The ‘above normal’ rainfall during this month is attributed to increased frequency of western disturbances and thunderstorm activity due to favorable trough and upper air cyclones. These can bring daytime temperatures down to ‘below normal’ in certain areas.
“The maximum (day) temperature is expected to be below normal to normal in many parts of the country. However, many parts of south peninsular India, parts of northeast and northwest India may experience above normal temperatures,” said Mohapatra.He said, on the other hand, the minimum (night) temperature is expected to be higher than normal in many parts of the country. “However, many areas of northwest India, parts of central India and adjoining areas of peninsular India and southern parts of northeast India are likely to experience below normal to normal minimum temperatures.”Southwest Monsoon is expected to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands on May 14-20. Its onset in Kerala, which marks the arrival of monsoon in mainland India, is expected around May 15.The Meteorological Department has already forecast ‘below normal’ monsoon rainfall this year amid the risk of El Niño, the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, often associated with depressed rainfall over the Indian subcontinent.The increasing frequency of WDs – moist air and low-pressure systems from the Mediterranean region that enter India and affect the local weather – led to seven such events in April, resulting in thunder, rain, wind and thundershowers in northwestern and adjoining central and eastern India.Extreme weather events linked to WD have claimed 24 lives in the past month. 10 people died due to lightning in Andhra, UP, Maharashtra and Odisha alone.
