After a sluggish and erratic start, the southwest monsoon has made a remarkable comeback, pushing India into an overall rainfall surplus for the first week of July.
Meteorologists attribute the active spell to the simultaneous influence of a Monsoon Trough, a Monsoon Trough Cyclone (MTC) over western India, and a depression over the Bay of Bengal.
Moisture streaming in from the Arabian Sea, aided by the active monsoon circulation over western India, is likely to trigger another round of heavy showers across the city and the Konkan coast.
The western half of the country continues to receive widespread rainfall under the influence of the Monsoon Trough Cyclone, while northern India is witnessing rain due to the active monsoon trough stretching across the Indo-Gangetic plains.
The widespread rainfall is expected to provide a boost to kharif sowing, improve reservoir levels and ease concerns over the delayed onset and weak performance witnessed through much of June.
After a sluggish and erratic start, the southwest monsoon has made a remarkable comeback, pushing India into an overall rainfall surplus for the first week of July.
Fresh data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows the country has received 53.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 48 mm between July 1 and July 6, a surplus of 11 per cent.
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Satellite images from ISRO's INSAT-3DS paint a striking picture of the monsoon's resurgence, with dense cloud bands blanketing almost the entire country.
From the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and the Himalayan foothills, India is under the influence of multiple active weather systems that are delivering widespread rainfall.
Meteorologists attribute the active spell to the simultaneous influence of a Monsoon Trough, a Monsoon Trough Cyclone (MTC) over western India, and a depression over the Bay of Bengal. Together, these systems have revived the monsoon after June ended with one of the weakest starts in decades.
The IMD has warned of very heavy rainfall over Odisha, Chhattisgarh and eastern Madhya Pradesh during the next 36 to 48 hours as the Bay of Bengal depression moves inland.
The system is expected to dump large amounts of rain across eastern and central India, increasing the risk of waterlogging, flash floods and overflowing rivers in vulnerable districts.
Mumbai, which has already witnessed days of relentless rain, is expected to receive light to moderate showers through the morning, with rainfall intensity forecast to increase significantly after noon. Moisture streaming in from the Arabian Sea, aided by the active monsoon circulation over western India, is likely to trigger another round of heavy showers across the city and the Konkan coast.
The western half of the country continues to receive widespread rainfall under the influence of the Monsoon Trough Cyclone, while northern India is witnessing rain due to the active monsoon trough stretching across the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Meanwhile, the Bay of Bengal depression continues to fuel thunderstorms and heavy rain over eastern states.
The latest rainfall map reflects the dramatic turnaround. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have all recorded excess to large excess rainfall during the past week.
However, rainfall deficits continue over parts of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and sections of the Northeast, although the gap is expected to narrow if the current active phase persists.
With almost the entire country now covered by rain-bearing clouds, forecasters expect the southwest monsoon to remain vigorous over the coming days.
The widespread rainfall is expected to provide a boost to kharif sowing, improve reservoir levels and ease concerns over the delayed onset and weak performance witnessed through much of June.
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