India Meteorological Department

 

Press Release

Dated 24th July

 

 

  Subject: MONSOON- 2008:- CURRENT STATUS

 

Rainfall during the week (17th to 23rd July)

 

During this week, monsoon trough remained north of its normal position with its axis lying close to foothills of the Himalayas. Consequently, rainfall activity remained confined mainly over Gangetic plains, northeastern states and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim. The parts of south peninsula such as Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu has also received normal to excess rainfall. The rainfall activity was generally sub-dued over  remaining parts of the country. During this week, rainfall over the country as a whole was 33 % below the Long Period Average (LPA).

 

Seasonal Rainfall Scenario (1st June to 23rd July)

 

The cumulative seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole during this year’s monsoon has so far been 2 % below the LPA. Details of the rainfall distribution over the four broad homogeneous regions of India are given below:

 

Regions

Actual Rainfall (mm)

% Departure from LPA

Country as a whole

370.0

-2

Northwest India

320.3

43

Central India

348.1

-15

South Peninsula

219.3

-32

North East India

697.7

3

 

Meteorological Sub-division wise rainfall condition

Out of 36 meteorological subdivisions, the rainfall has been excess over 9, normal over 12 and deficient /scanty over 15 subdivisions. The details of deficient/scanty meteorological subdivisions alongwith their cumulative rainfall as on 23rd July 2008 are given in table 1.

 

 

 

 

 

Table -1 Meteorological Sub-divisions with deficient/scanty rainfall

 

 

S. No.

Met Sub-division

% Departure of rainfall from LPA

1.               

Assam & Meghalaya

-26

2.               

Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura

-26

3.               

Gujarat Region

-36

4.               

Saurashtra & Kutch

-35

5.               

Konkan & Goa

-24

6.               

Madhya Maharashtra

-49

7.               

Marathwada

-62

8.               

Vidarbha

-35

9.               

Coastal Andhra Pradesh

-22

10.            

Telangana

-30

11.            

Rayalaseema

-22

12.            

Coastal Karnataka

-38

13.            

North Interior Karnataka

-53

14.            

South Interior Karnataka

-28

15.            

Kerala

-43

 

 

Current Meteorological Analysis

 

 

         The current meteorological analysis and numerical weather prediction models suggest southward shift of monsoon trough from tomorrow onwards. Subsequently, a low pressure area is likely to form over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal around 27 July. This development is considered as a signal for revival of monsoon activity along the west coast and over central & adjoining peninsular India.

 

 

Weather Forecast for next One Week

 

 

·       Rainfall activity is likely to increase considerably over Central & adjoining Peninsular India particularly over Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

 

 

·       The rainfall activity is also likely to increase along the west coast and Gujarat with possibility of heavy to very heavy falls.

 

 

·       The intensity of ongoing rainfall activity over foothills of the Himalayas & adjoining Gangetic plains and northeastern states is likely to decrease from tomorrow onwards.

 

 

·       Scattered rain/thundershower activity is likely over northwest India.

 

 

 

Next Press Release will be issued around 31st July 2008.