Skymet weather

Captive period ends, reservoirs’ level remain low

lake CroppedThe undeniable panoramic view of the lakes in Himachal Pradesh, may suffer as the state experiences a 35% rain deficiency left behind by the southwest monsoon this year leading to low level of water in reservoirs. Relying primarily on rain water, melting snow and glaciers for its water supply, the lakes and reservoirs of the hilly state may witness an alarming situation if the water from these water bodies is not utilized judiciously.
Studded with lakes, Himachal Pradesh is a paradise for those who love water activities such as water-skiing, sailing, kayaking and water-scooter racing. Due to depleting water level of dams and reservoirs in the state, water storage that is later used for irrigation and portable drinking water and water related activities are expected to be affected.

The state of Himachal Pradesh boasts of dams and reservoirs that are the Bhakra Nangal Dam, the Pandoh Dam, Nathpa Jhakri Dam, Chamera Dam, Gobind Sagar Reservoir and the Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir.

Due to a poor monsoon season, many parts of the country have been hit with a rain deficiency and Himachal Pradesh was one of them. While the state observed a rain deficiency of 35%, Kangra district experienced a rain deficiency of 32 percent. The other pockets that are vital to the rising water levels in these reservoirs also reeled under high rainfall deficiency. Lahaul and Spiti had a rain deficiency of 78%, while it was 80% for Kinnaur district and 65% for Chamba district.

 

Good weather to welcome Goddess Durga in West Bengal & Assam

The eagerly awaited time of the year has arrived when Bengalis and Assamese wake up to the maddening beats of the dhak every morning, which help them to assume the festive aura during the ten-day long Durga Puja celebration.

Countdown to festival starts with Mahalaya, observed on the 23rd of September this year. Mahalaya also marks the end of the 'Pitri-Paksha' and is the first day of the ‘Devi-Paksha’. Goddess Durga and her children have started their journey towards earth.

Durga Puja, also referred to as Durgotsava in Bengali, is observed on six days known as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami and Vijayadashami. The first day of Navaratra starts just after the Mahalaya celebration. Durga Puja will start from Panchami to be celebrated on September 29, but the ceremonies will start in the various Pandals from Saptami, October 1.

Over the last weekend organisers, pandal makers and artisans were seen praying for a weather miracle as incessant rains threatened to spoil the festivities. The weather system which formed over Bay of Bengal brought heavy showers over East and Northeast India but rain will gradually reduce.

It is thus, time to make up for the couple of days lost, particularly in West Bengal and Sikkim where rain has reduced significantly. In Assam and Meghalaya as well, rain will completely subside by 28th September.

As predicted earlier by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, rain will reduce ahead of Durga Puja and is not likely to play a spoilsport as Ma Durga will be worshipped across West Bengal and Assam. Thereafter, rain will be absolutely of short duration if at all. According to the latest weather update by Skymet, in the absence of rain, weather will be hot and humid with maximum in mid-thirties and minimums in mid-twenties.

Goddess Durga is the embodiment of ‘shakti’, she is known to be the divine feminine force governing all cosmic creation, existence and change. It is a popular belief that Durga came into existence from the collective energies of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, to conquer the demon Mahishasura who could not be defeated by any god or man.

In most parts of East India and Assam revelries on a grand scale are held during this time and the only way to fathom the magnitude of this festival is to witness it.

Picture courtesy- Sudip Dutta

Mangalyaan – India's interplanetary technology display

MANGALYAAN Mars Orbiter Mission(MOM), informally called Mangalyaan, is a Mars orbiter launched on November 5, 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It is expected to enter orbit around Mars on September 24. The mission is a "technology demonstrator" project aiming to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management, and operations of an interplanetary mission. It is now in its last leg. The cost of the project is Rs. 450 Cr. This is India's first interplanetary mission.

The primary objective of the Mars Orbiter Mission is to showcase India's rocket launch systems, spacecraft-building and operations capabilities. The primary objective is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission, comprising the following major tasks.

  • Design and realization of a Mars orbiter with a capability to perform Earth-bound manoeuvres, cruise phase of 300 days, Mars orbit insertion / capture and on-orbit phase around Mars
  • Deep-space communication, navigation, mission planning and management
  • Incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations

The secondary objective is to explore Mars' surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere (presence of water, gasses like Methane) using indigenous scientific instruments. The probe is traveling at a speed of 82000 km/hr. The distance between earth and mars is 22.5 Cr km

Earlier similar attempts have been made by USA, Russia and European Space Agency (ESA). China and Japan have also attempted but the Chinese mission failed in 2011 and the Japanese got aborted. A total of 51 launches have been made out of which 1/3rd have been successful ( 4 landed and 7 in orbit). It is also to be noted that none of them have been successful in the first attempt. In case India succeeds, it is going to be a unique milestone.

As on 22nd September the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO confirmed that the engine had a "perfect burn' and the trajectory has also been corrected. Now all systems are set for the big event on September 24, the day Mangalyaan is set to enter the Martian orbit by successfully firing the liquid engine for 04 seconds.

To enter Mars Orbit Mangalyaan needs to be slowed down from 22 km/sec to 4.4 km/sec by firing the main liquid engine for 24 minutes on September 24. This step is very crucial to enter the gravitational sphere of the red planet. The MOM will collect data for next 6 months to study and research various aspects of Mars

 

Cherrapunji receives highest rainfall in a decade

CHERRAPUNJICherrapunji, situated in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, has witnessed 492 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, making it highest in a decade. With this, the city has receive a total of 1208.8 mm of rainfall, surpassing monthly average of 1034.8 mm

The city has been receiving continuous heavy showers and have recorded three digit rainfall for the past five consecutive days.

Cherrapunji had recorded 150 mm of rainfall on September 19, 108 mm on September 20, 175 mm on September 21 and 146 mm on September 22. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the city will continue to witness heavy rainfall but with the reduced intensity in the next 48 hours.

Southwest monsoon has been active over the Northeast India since the beginning of September. The region has been witnessing heavy to very heavy rains during the past few days. As per Skymet, there has been a monsoon system lying over the low pressure areas such as West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh, which has caused widespread heavy rains over the region during the past few days. Heavy spells are very common during the Southwest monsoon and even during the retreating period. As per Skymet forecast, monsoon might retreat itself from the area in a fortnight and it may commence anytime after October 01.

Cherrapunji holds the status of being the second wettest place on Earth. On an average, Cherrapunji receives 13500 mm of rain annually. Nevertheless, it still holds the record for receiving 985.6 mm of rainfall in 24 hours on September 13, 1974.  It also holds the world record of highest rainfall in a calendar month and a year with 9300 mm in July, 1861 and 26,461 mm between 1st August, 1860 and 31st July, 1861. The nearby town of Mawsynram has been credited with being the wettest place in the world.

Weather here remains cool and comfortable throughout the year on account of its contrasting topography, which is also the reason for such heavy rain. Cherrapunji sits on a plateau, with an average elevation of 4560 ft. above the sea level. It is situated at an ideal height, neither too low nor too high, and allows the monsoon air mass to rise from plains to the cliffs.

The months of June and July also receive heavy rain with average of 2512 mm and 3000 mm, respectively. The intensity of rain decreases by October and drastically comes down in November with a meagre average of 74 mm of rain. The winter season receives very less amounts of rain.

Image credit - odishasuntimes.com

 

 

Ten killed in Assam, Meghalaya floods; rainfall to reduce in next 48 hours

Assam floodIncessant rains over the last three days in parts of Northeast India have lead to severe floods in Assam and Meghalaya. Several places in Assam including Goalpara, Dhubri, Lakhimpur, Kamrup district and Guwahati have been inundated in flood waters. Garo hills of Meghalaya have also been flooded. According to media reports 10 people have also lost their lives and the toll is likely to rise further.

Heavy rainfall

In a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Monday, Guwahati has received a whopping 155 mm of rain, while 109 mm of rain was recorded in the city on Sunday. Dhubri had also recorded 205 mm of rain on Sunday. Some other places in Assam to have received good rain in the last 24 hours are Tezpur 90 mm and Dibrugarh 61 mm.

Cherrapunji in Meghalaya has received over 1000 mm of rain in the last five days. In last 24 hours from 8.30 am on Monday the city has observed 492 mm of rain, while on Sunday it had recorded 146 mm of rain. Heavy rainfall has also been recorded at places like Williamnagar where 319 mm of rain was observed on Monday, Shillong 203 mm, Nongstoin 267 mm and Baghmara 169 mm of rain.

Neighbouring Bangladesh is also bearing the brunt of heavy rains. Sylhet has recorded 125 mm of rain in last 24 hours. Comilla, Khepupara and Feni have recorded 169 mm, 153 mm and 148 mm of rain, respectively.

Reason for heavy rain

The well-marked low over Odisha and westcentral Bay of Bengal has been there for about 5 days and is moving across Odisha, Bengal, Bihar, Northeast India and Bangladesh. During retreating monsoon these systems have a tendency to recurve and go towards East and Northeast India giving spells of heavy rain, which is exactly the case at the moment.

Forecast

Meanwhile, rainfall is going to reduce in intensity as well as in spacial coverage over the next two days. However, flood situation may continue as rivers keep responding even after cessation of rain. Overall improvement in the condition is possible only by the weekend, when rain will become minimal and river waters will start receding.

What is wrong with weather in USA ?

weather-map-USA CroppedIf you were to ask somebody in United States, what is the season at present, he/she may be little confused because for some it will feel like winter, for others, it will feel like it is still mid-summer.

According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, a strong upper-atmospheric trough is moving across the Plains and Midwest as an upper-atmospheric ridge builds in the West. This will mean very low temperatures for the northern Rockies to the southern Plains and into the Midwest, while the West Coast will bake in searing heat.

Some other unusual features in the recent weather pattern are:-

Calm Atlantic

Strong vertical wind shear has been the inhibiting factor for Hurricanes in Atlantic.This year, according to several records that date back to 1970, the period from June to August tied for the second-highest average vertical wind shear. Wind shear is important because it removes the heat and moisture from the area near the storm's center and causes displacement of the clouds. This makes it more difficult for the system to become organized and develop.

It certainly does not feel like early September in the tropical Atlantic. The weather has been active over most of the US, but the opposite is true for Atlantic hurricane season.

Tropical Atlantic has been quiet this season, and there were no named storms till the time Tropical Storm Edouard developed late on Thursday night.

There were other factors that have acted as obstacles to tropical development, including drier air than average, cooler water temperatures and higher pressure between the African coast and the Caribbean, where most Atlantic named storms form from the waves.

However, conditions could change. We have already witnessed more hurricanes than last year, including the first storm of the season, Hurricane Arthur, which impacted the East Coast.

Rain Showers due to Lake-Effect

Water temperatures are generally between 600F and 700F through the Great Lakes, with the exception of Lake Superior where temperatures are in the 40s and 50s. Colder temperatures have advanced into the region behind the strong cold front. Highs will be mainly in the 50s and 60s and lows will be in the 30s and 40s(0F) . This first taste of fall will even bring the chance for lake-enhanced rain showers later this week in parts of Great Lakes region. The cold air will remain over the warm Great Lakes this weekend and the result will be a few lake-enhanced or lake-effect rain showers.

Parching Pacific Northwest

The heat persists in much of the Pacific Northwest as a strong ridge of high pressure builds into the region again. Portland, Oregon, will see the thermometer climb to 900F this weekend. Average maximum temperatures for early to mid-September should be in the higher 70s. In fact, this could be one of the longest stretches of consecutive days with maximum at or above 900F this year. The longest so far this year has been three days.

Record highs are possible including San Diego, Los Angeles and Portland, especially on Sunday.

Late Summer Snow

South Dakota saw its earliest measurable snowfall (at least 0.1 inch) on record on September 11 with 0.9" reported (previous record was on September 13). North Platte, Nebraska also saw its earliest snow with a trace reported on September 11. Light snow was observed in Great Falls, Montana, on the night of September 16, making it the earliest snow there since 1992. More than a foot of snow had fallen in some of the higher elevations in Wyoming, causing some tree damage and power outages. Snowflakes were even seen in the Denver metro area from night of September 18 till the morning of September 19. Snow has also blanketed parts of western Canada, including Calgary, earlier this week, which led to felling of trees and causing power outages.

The first frost or even freeze of the season was seen for much of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Low temperatures dropped towards the freezing point deep into the Plains.

Record lows were also broken on Saturday morning including International Falls, Minnesota (250F), Kansas City, Missouri (370F) and Austin, Texas (600F).

 

Bangalore reaches halfway mark of monthly rainfall

As rain bathed the ‘Garden city of India’ during the last 24 hours, Bangalore now inches closer towards half of its average monthly rainfall of 241 mm.

Just as southwest monsoon retreats, Bangalore receives its departing gift as the city experienced 79.2 mm in the last 24 hours. This makes the September rainfall 102.2 mm which is still far away from the average monthly rainfall.

Bangalore has observed scanty rains so far, except 8 mm of rain recorded on 8th September. Rain has also been poor for the current month which was merely 23 mm for the period 1st September – 22nd September.

Though heavy spells such like one received recently are not uncommon but rare for Bangalore. It received similar spell of 79.8 mm on 2nd September, 2013. The 10-year high for a span of 24 hours stands at 114.1 mm, occurred on 25th September, 2010. The all-time high rain for Bangalore is 177.6 mm happened 12th September, 1988.

Bangalore is the heart of the Mysore plateau, situated at the height of 3000 ft. Due to its high elevation, Bangalore normally enjoys pleasant weather conditions throughout the year, although occasional heat waves make summer little uncomfortable.

 







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