New Western Disturbance from June 18, says IMD as 60% districts rain deficit | Today’s news
The India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday that a fresh western disturbance is likely to hit northwest India starting June 18, even as 60% of the country’s districts experienced “deficient” or “severely deficient” rainfall during June 1-16. A low-pressure storm system originating from the Mediterranean Sea, the Western Disturbance brings sudden rain, strong winds and cooler temperatures to northern India.
Data from the IMD showed that 245 of India’s 741 districts received “deficient” rainfall during the period, while 214 were marked as “severely deficient”. In IMD terminology, “severe deficiency” means that a region is severely deficient in rainfall, lacking more than 60% of the normal rainfall for the period.
Meanwhile, conditions remain favorable for the southwest monsoon to advance further in the next four to five days and bring rain to other parts of Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh, he added.
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The monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 4, three days after its usual start date of June 1. It has since covered Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, most of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar and the entire Northeast.
The IMD has also forecast dust storms in Rajasthan between June 17 and 19 and widespread rainfall in most northern states between June 17 and 23. Delhi, Chandigarh and Punjab may experience isolated thunderstorms during this period. Gangetic West Bengal may witness widespread rains from June 20 to 23, while most parts of Maharashtra and Goa are likely to receive isolated to scattered rain during the same period. “Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall” is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during 17–23. June, the IMD added.
South India is also set to receive heavy rainfall this week, the Met office said. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal near Chennai on June 17-21 and over Kerala and Mahe on June 21-23, the IMD added.
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IMD advised farmers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to ensure proper drainage of crops – including rice, millet, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables and plantation crops such as banana, coconut, ginger and black pepper – to minimize damage caused by heavy rains.
In India, the kharif sowing season begins in June with the onset of the southwest monsoon. Harvesting starts from about September to October when the rains recede. The kharif harvest accounts for about half of India’s annual harvest.
In the hot seat
Meanwhile, heat waves are likely to persist in certain parts of the country, the IMD said. “Heat waves are very likely in isolated pockets over Bihar and Odisha during June 17-18; Chhattisgarh on June 17; East Madhya Pradesh and West Madhya Pradesh during June 17-21; East Uttar Pradesh during June 17-22; Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Mar19 during June 17-18 June in on June 17 to 20 in West Uttar Pradesh,” the IMD said in a statement.
It also predicted light rain, thundershowers and lightning in Delhi during the second half of June 18 and 19.
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