Typically by this time of the year, Delhi comes under the grip of Loo, the hot and dry summer winds that blow in from central Pakistan region and the great Thar desert in Rajasthan. The westerly/north westerly winds, locally known as Loo in North India, bring a lot of dust and much despair to the cleanliness freak.
As we approach the end of April, Delhiites get prepared for hot weather accompanied these afternoon winds, especially strong in the months of May and June when temperatures shoot up to high-thirties and going beyond forties at times. Delhi witnesses Loo till the arrival of monsoon and few hours of exposure to it could be detrimental to health and can even lead to fatal heat strokes.
On the contrary, the month of May is gone and weather in North India has been relatively pleasant till now due to simultaneous Western Disturbances bringing short and frequent spells of rain in the region including Delhi/NCR.
The plains of North India have been observing dust storm, rain and strong winds for the last couple of days, under the influence Western Disturbance and moist winds from the east. This year temperatures in these regions have been under check due to occurrence of such activities frequently.
Delhi is known for its punishing summers and blistering heat. In fact the month of May generally witnesses day temperatures in mid-forties and the highest so far was 47.2°C Safdarjung, in the year 1944. However, this month experienced only three spells of heat before this, once in the beginning of the month and then again on 24th of May when maximum touched the highest of the season at 43.6°C.
The last spell of heat was witnessed on 29th of May when Delhi was sizzling with Palam recording a maximum of 46°C and the Safdarjung Observatory recorded the highest maximum of the season at 43.7°C. However, contradictory to several media reports, this wasn't the highest maximum of last 16 years. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) records maximum soared to record 47.2°C on 24th May, 2013, clearly indicating that the weather on last Thursday definitely wasn't as bad as last year.
These were the only three spells when Delhi witnessed Loo but the days of relative comfort are nearing an end, according to Skymet Meteorology Division in India. The maximums are likely to witness a sudden rise under the influence of westerly winds from the Thar desert. Cities like Delhi, Amritsar, Ganganagar, Ludhiana, Karnal, Hisar, Agra and Jaipur will start becoming extremely hot and uncomfortable.
The Safdarjung Observatory in Delhi recorded maximum of 39.9°C on Monday and according to latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, temperatures will rise gradually in the next 5 days. Click here to know how to combat heat and Loo in Delhi.
As predicted by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, good amounts of rain with heavy showers in isolated pockets lashed south interior Karnataka and north Kerala in the last 24 hours.
The trough extending from Marathwada to the Kerala coast, running across south interior Karnataka brought good rain to Kerala and Karnataka in the last few days. On Monday, Telangana, coastal Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu also received good showers.
With the arrival of Monsoon in India, the rain belt engulfs Kerala and spreads to other parts of peninsular India as well. And according to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, this widespread rain is a part of the monsoonal pattern.
Rain in Kerala on 31st of May was heavy in many cities including Kozhikode recording 42.5 mm, , Alappuzha 34 mm, Kannur and Wayanad 33 mm each. However, rain intensity reduced and became light from 1st June. Some of the main stations like Kochi, Kozhikode and Punalur recorded between 1 mm to 3 mm of rain. On Monday, Kannur received 12.6 mm, Kochi 10.4 mm, Punalur 4.6, Thiruvananthapuram 5.6, Kozhikode 1 mm. In Tamil Nadu, Chennai (Airport) received 22 mm of rain, Karaikal 37 mm, Coimbatore 3.1, Cunoor 8.6 mm.
In Karnataka, Bangalore received 27.8 mm, Chitradurga 67.2 mm, Gulbarga 2 mm, Belgaum 45 mm and Ratnagiri 11 mm of rain. Other cities like Hyderabad received 47 mm, Anathpur 55 mm and Kurnool 47 mm of rain, Minicoy 46 mm and Port Blair 5.3 mm.
Rainfall in these regions are showing a declining trends in next 48 hours. Nevertheless, Skymet’s Meteorology Division is of the opinion that most of the conditions required for the onset of Southwest Monsoon in Kerala have been met.
picture courtesy- livemint
Cardamom prices declined marginally on slack demand despite supply squeeze at auctions last week. Good summer showers for over a week in the growing areas have changed the market sentiments. Buyers slowed down purchases expecting new crop to hit markets by late June. At Kochi market, cardamom prices were Rs 449-1024 per kg.
The global sugar surplus era is coming to an end. After three straight years of big surpluses, the sugar market is heading towards a balance or a small deficit next season due to adverse weather in Brazil and Asia and higher than expected Chinese demand. Due to weather issue, there will be adverse impact on next year production.
Maize planting is near to end in France, with 92 percent of the area expected for this year's harvest sown by May 12, according to weekly crop data from farm office. The grain maize area sown had risen from approximate 83 percent a week earlier and was above 77 percent a year ago. Rain since the end of April has slowed the maize sowing.
Chicago wheat prices dropped about 1 per cent, with improving weather in the drought-hit United States Plains and prospects of plentiful global supplies dragging on prices. Risks in Ukraine are still real but at this stage unless pro-Russian rebels take control of the ports, we expect exports from the region to remain reasonably robust this year.
