Tag: India Meteorological Department

  • Several Bats Die In Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Due To Heatwave |

    The rising temperatures are not just taking a toll on human life across India but also affecting wildlife including birds and animals. In Madhya Pradesh’s Panna, the increasing heat has led to the deaths of numerous bats, as they fell from the banyan trees around the Dahlen pond.

    The temperature in Panna has been hovering around 42 degrees Celsius over the past few days. This excessive heat has proven fatal for many bats, which have been found dead and fallen to the ground beneath the trees.

    The death of multiple bats aroused curiosity among the local residents as they gathered to witness the distressing scene. In response, the municipal authorities have taken precautionary measures by collecting the dead bats and disposing of them in garbage trucks.

    The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert warning of severe heatwave conditions in parts of Madhya Pradesh. “There is a possibility of severe heatwave in Gwalior, Bhind, Datia, Morena and Niwari districts in the state. A red alert has been issued in these areas and the temperature here today will be around 46/47 degrees celsius,” said the IMD. 

    The state capital Bhopal and Vidisha can also experience the heatwave and the temperature is likely to hit 44 to 45 degrees celsius. Other regions in the state that may experience heatwave are Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Bhopal, Khandwa, Khargone, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Maihar, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Katni, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur and Tikamgarh. 

  • Monsoonal rains swing from 10-per cent deficit to surplus in 8 days 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The bountiful rains in many parts of India in the first eight days of July have bridged the rainfall deficit for the entire country, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

    The cumulative rainfall in the monsoon season has reached 243.2 mm, which is 2 per cent above the normal of 239.1 mm.

    However, there are large-scale regional variations in rainfall. While the eastern and northeastern region has recorded a deficiency of 17 per cent (375.3 mm against a normal of 454 mm), north India has witnessed 59 per cent excess rainfall (199.7 mm against a normal of 125.5 mm), the latest IMD data showed.

    Central India, where a large number of farmers rely on monsoonal rains, has recorded 264.9 mm rainfall against a normal of 255.1 mm, an excess of 4 per cent.

    The rainfall deficiency in south India has reduced from 45 per cent to 23 per cent. At the end of June, the cumulative rainfall for the entire country was 148.6 mm, 10 per cent below the normal precipitation. The deficit stood at 33 per cent on June 22.

    The IMD had earlier forecast normal rainfall in July, ranging from 94 to 106 per cent of the long-period average.

    However, below-normal precipitation is expected in many areas of northwest, northeast and southeast peninsular India.

    Northwest India saw above-normal rain in the pre-monsoon season due to higher-than-usual western disturbances — weather systems that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to the region.

    Cyclone Biparjoy played a role in delaying the monsoon onset over Kerala and the advance over southern India and the adjoining western and central parts of the country.

    However, its remnant brought heavy rainfall to parts of northwest and central India in the third week of June.

    An interaction between an active Western Disturbance and the monsoon trough has resulted in incessant rain since Saturday, causing flash floods and severe damage to infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Delhi recorded 153 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, and another 105 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

    Chandigarh and Ambala reported a record rainfall of 322.2 mm and 224.1 mm respectively.

    According to experts, the late arrival of monsoon caused a delay in crop sowing by about two weeks in many parts of central India in June and the ongoing intense rain in north India is expected to have an impact on the cultivation of pulses and oilseed crops.

    GV Ramanjaneyulu, an agricultural scientist at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture in Hyderabad, said in north India, where most of the irrigated areas grow paddy, the impact may not be significant.

    However, the cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and vegetables in certain parts of north and central India will likely be affected.

    He said heavy waterlogging or stagnant water for extended periods can negatively affect seed germination.

    Ramanjaneyulu said India lacks a proper water management system, specifically drainage infrastructure.

    “While there are irrigation networks, there is often no effective way to drain excess water during heavy rainfall.”

    The excessive rainfall has already resulted in an increase in tomato prices across the country.

    According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water availability in the country’s reservoirs is also improving.

    The CWC regularly monitors the water levels in 146 reservoirs across the country.

    These reservoirs include hydroelectric projects, with a total capacity to hold 178.185 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water.

    As of July 6, the live storage in these reservoirs was measured at 51.064 BCM, which is around 29 per cent of their total capacity.

    Although it is slightly lower than the water available during the same period last year (52.971 BCM), it is higher than the average storage of the last 10 years, which is 46.508 BCM.

    NEW DELHI: The bountiful rains in many parts of India in the first eight days of July have bridged the rainfall deficit for the entire country, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

    The cumulative rainfall in the monsoon season has reached 243.2 mm, which is 2 per cent above the normal of 239.1 mm.

    However, there are large-scale regional variations in rainfall. While the eastern and northeastern region has recorded a deficiency of 17 per cent (375.3 mm against a normal of 454 mm), north India has witnessed 59 per cent excess rainfall (199.7 mm against a normal of 125.5 mm), the latest IMD data showed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Central India, where a large number of farmers rely on monsoonal rains, has recorded 264.9 mm rainfall against a normal of 255.1 mm, an excess of 4 per cent.

    The rainfall deficiency in south India has reduced from 45 per cent to 23 per cent. At the end of June, the cumulative rainfall for the entire country was 148.6 mm, 10 per cent below the normal precipitation. The deficit stood at 33 per cent on June 22.

    The IMD had earlier forecast normal rainfall in July, ranging from 94 to 106 per cent of the long-period average.

    However, below-normal precipitation is expected in many areas of northwest, northeast and southeast peninsular India.

    Northwest India saw above-normal rain in the pre-monsoon season due to higher-than-usual western disturbances — weather systems that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to the region.

    Cyclone Biparjoy played a role in delaying the monsoon onset over Kerala and the advance over southern India and the adjoining western and central parts of the country.

    However, its remnant brought heavy rainfall to parts of northwest and central India in the third week of June.

    An interaction between an active Western Disturbance and the monsoon trough has resulted in incessant rain since Saturday, causing flash floods and severe damage to infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Delhi recorded 153 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, and another 105 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

    Chandigarh and Ambala reported a record rainfall of 322.2 mm and 224.1 mm respectively.

    According to experts, the late arrival of monsoon caused a delay in crop sowing by about two weeks in many parts of central India in June and the ongoing intense rain in north India is expected to have an impact on the cultivation of pulses and oilseed crops.

    GV Ramanjaneyulu, an agricultural scientist at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture in Hyderabad, said in north India, where most of the irrigated areas grow paddy, the impact may not be significant.

    However, the cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and vegetables in certain parts of north and central India will likely be affected.

    He said heavy waterlogging or stagnant water for extended periods can negatively affect seed germination.

    Ramanjaneyulu said India lacks a proper water management system, specifically drainage infrastructure.

    “While there are irrigation networks, there is often no effective way to drain excess water during heavy rainfall.”

    The excessive rainfall has already resulted in an increase in tomato prices across the country.

    According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water availability in the country’s reservoirs is also improving.

    The CWC regularly monitors the water levels in 146 reservoirs across the country.

    These reservoirs include hydroelectric projects, with a total capacity to hold 178.185 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water.

    As of July 6, the live storage in these reservoirs was measured at 51.064 BCM, which is around 29 per cent of their total capacity.

    Although it is slightly lower than the water available during the same period last year (52.971 BCM), it is higher than the average storage of the last 10 years, which is 46.508 BCM.

  • ‘Amarnath flash floods may be due to highly localised rain event, not cloudburst’: IMD

    According to weather scientists, the shrine reported 31 mm of rainfall between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm on Friday, which is quite low to be categorised as a cloudburst.

  • Monsoon set to arrive early, onset over Andaman on May 15

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Southwest Monsoon is set to arrive early with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands expected to receive first seasonal showers on May 15, the weather office said on Thursday.

    “Southwest Monsoon is likely to advance into South Andaman Sea & adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal around 15th May, 2022,” the India Meteorological Department said in a statement here.

    Weather scientists said that extended range forecasts have consistently suggested favourable conditions for early monsoon onset over Kerala and its northward movement.

    The early onset of monsoon could bring cheer as most parts of the country witnessed extremely high temperatures over the past fortnight.

    The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is June 1.

    The weather office said fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall is very likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next five days.

    The archipelago is very likely to experience isolated heavy falls over the region from May 14 to May 16.

    It said squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph to 60 kmph was also likely over South Andaman Sea on May 15 and May 16.

  • Three dead in rain-related incidents in Kerala; Kashmir reels under sub-zero temperatures

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Heavy rains lashed parts of south India on Monday, resulting in the death of three people and widespread property damage in Kerala, while Kashmir in the north reeled under sub-zero night temperatures.

    Rainfall or thundershowers were also witnessed at many places over Gangetic West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal Karnataka, Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

    Isolated places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Telangana, Maharashtra, Goa, and Lakshadweep received showers as well, the weather office said in a bulletin.

    In Delhi, the air quality deteriorated marginally on Monday and no improvement is predicted over the next three days even though the share of stubble burning in the city’s pollution stood at 10 per cent, the lowest since Diwali (November 4).

    ​ALSO READ | Another bout of heavy rains heading Chennai’s way

    The national capital’s 24-hour average air quality index stood at 353 at 4 pm.

    It recorded a maximum temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature settled at 10.3 degrees Celsius.

    The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ forecasting agency SAFAR said the air quality is unlikely to improve on Tuesday as the transport-level wind speed is increasing resulting in more intrusion of stubble burning-related pollutants into Delhi.

    In Rajasthan, the Jaipur weather office said isolated places in the south-eastern parts of the state are likely to receive rains in the next few days.

    Chittorgarh recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 7.5 degrees Celsius in the state, while Churu recorded a low of 7.6 degrees Celsius.

    According to the weather office, the temperatures are unlikely to change much in the next 48 hours.

    Several areas in Kashmir were engulfed by a layer of fog on Monday morning as the mercury went below the freezing point.

    Srinagar recorded a low of zero degree Celsius — up from minus 0.9 degrees Celsius the previous night.

    ​ALSO READ | Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala as state receives 105 per cent excess rainfall this month

    Officials said Pahalgam recorded a low of minus four degrees Celsius, the coldest in Kashmir.

    Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.

    The mercury at Kupwara in north Kashmir too settled at a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.

    Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag town in the south recorded a low of 0.4 degrees Celsius.

    The wintry conditions in Kashmir have set in much ahead of the beginning of the extreme harsh weather conditions, which usually start around the third week of December.

    The meteorological department has said the weather is most likely to remain dry till November 20.

    In Kerala, the IMD has issued an orange alert for the districts of Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod.

    The state Disaster Management Authority informed that in the last 24 hours, the districts of Kollam, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki and Thrissur were affected the most.

    ALSO READ | IMD predicts more rains in south coastal districts, Rayalaseema

    Two toddlers lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents in Kannur and Thrissur districts.

    A driver was killed in a mudslide incident in Ernakulam.

    As per the weatherman, Kerala has received 833.8 mm rain during the period of October 1 to 15, while the normal average rainfall was 407.2 mm.

    There is a departure of 105 per cent.

    Many universities in the state postponed exams scheduled for Monday and Tuesday due to the incessant rainfall while collectors of seven south central districts have declared holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, on Monday.

    “The cyclonic circulation over east central and adjoining southeast Arabian sea off Karnataka, north Kerala coasts extending up to mid tropospheric level persists,” the IMD said.

    The authorities also warned the fishermen not to venture into the sea as strong wind with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail over the Kerala coast.

  • Rainfall in October highest in the month in last 120 years: IMD

    Prior to 2021, the state received more than 500 mm rainfall in October of 1932 (543.2 mm), 1999 (567.9 mm) and 2002 (511.7 mm), the IMD has said.

  • WATCH | Rriver washes away under-construction bridge as rains cause havoc in Uttarakhand

    By ANI

    CHAMPAWAT: In Rain-battered Uttarakhand, an under-construction bridge over the Chalthi River in Champawat got washed away due to a rise in water level.

    National forecasting agency, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state and heavy rainfall has been predicted for the next few days.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take stock of the situation arising due to heavy rains in the state. Dhami on Monday took a detailed review of the situation.

    #WATCH | An under construction bridge, over a raging Chalthi River in Champawat, washed away due to rise in the water level caused by incessant rainfall in parts of Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/AaLBdClIwe
    — ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021
    The Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district has been completely blocked due to debris at seven places following incessant rains over the last 48 hours, the district administration said on Tuesday.

    As a precautionary measure, the Badrinath Char Dham Yatra has been halted, and passengers en route to Badrinath Temple were stopped in safe places. 

    Incessant rains have been lashing parts of Uttarakhand since October 16, forcing the state to temporarily suspend the Char Dham Yatra on Monday. Higher reaches of the hill state, including Darma, Vyas and Johar Valley, have received snowfall of more than six inches in the last 48 hours

    #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Nainital Lake overflows and floods the streets in Nainital & enters building and houses here. The region is receiving incessant heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/G2TLfNqo21
    — ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

  • WATCH | River washes away under-construction bridge as rains cause havoc in Uttarakhand

    By ANI

    CHAMPAWAT: In Rain-battered Uttarakhand, an under-construction bridge over the Chalthi River in Champawat got washed away due to a rise in water level.

    National forecasting agency, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state and heavy rainfall has been predicted for the next few days.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take stock of the situation arising due to heavy rains in the state. Dhami on Monday took a detailed review of the situation.

    #WATCH | An under construction bridge, over a raging Chalthi River in Champawat, washed away due to rise in the water level caused by incessant rainfall in parts of Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/AaLBdClIwe
    — ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021
    The Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district has been completely blocked due to debris at seven places following incessant rains over the last 48 hours, the district administration said on Tuesday.

    As a precautionary measure, the Badrinath Char Dham Yatra has been halted, and passengers en route to Badrinath Temple were stopped in safe places. 

    Incessant rains have been lashing parts of Uttarakhand since October 16, forcing the state to temporarily suspend the Char Dham Yatra on Monday. Higher reaches of the hill state, including Darma, Vyas and Johar Valley, have received snowfall of more than six inches in the last 48 hours

    #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Nainital Lake overflows and floods the streets in Nainital & enters building and houses here. The region is receiving incessant heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/G2TLfNqo21
    — ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

  • Southwest Monsoon withdrawal begins, retreat from Delhi in 3-4 days: IMD

    This is the second-most delayed withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon since 1975 after the 2019 monsoon that started retreating only on October 9 that year, according to IMD.

  • Favourable conditions for start of monsoon withdrawal from North West India on October 6: IMD

    This is the second-most delayed withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon since 1960 after the 2019 monsoon that strated retreating only on October 9 that year, according to IMD.