Skymet weather

Death Valley in US is the all-time world's hottest place

New Delhi, Friday, September 14, Death valley in the desert of California has acquired the all -time world's hottest place tag by pushing erstwhile warmest place El Azizia in Libya. The death valley of California was being considered as the second hottest places in the world till now but new analysis of the past weather date found that the record of 136 degrees at a remote desert spot in Libya is incorrect. The right candidate to be called as all time warmest place is death valley in Greenland Rance in California as it recorded, the beastly 134-degree reading on July 10, 1913. The record supposedly set by El Azizia 90 years ago has been found invalid due to following five reasons:

 

  •  Use of antiquated instrumentation
  •  A likely inexperienced observer
  •  An observation site that was not representative of the desert surroundings
  • Poor matching of the temperature to nearby locations
  • Poor matching to temperatures recorded in that location after the record was established

While the new warmest place is located about 200 miles northeast of Los Angeles and 100 miles west of Las Vegas averages only about 2 inches or rain each year. During the period from 1931-34 it received just over a half inch of rain in total.

Rain likely to continue over northwest plain, east and northeast; rise in temperatures in central Peninsula

New Delhi, Friday, September 14, The northwest plains and hills would be witnessing rain during the next twenty four hours. East and northeastern region would see a continuation of rainfall activities during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. While reduction in rain over Central and Southern Peninsula would increase temperatures.

The western end of the monsoon trough has shifted in the foothills of the Himalayas. This would bring rain at many places over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. One or two places over these regions could also experience heavy to very heavy downpour during this period.

East Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya would stay with moderate to heavy rain during the next twenty four hours as the eastern end of the monsoon trough is passing these places. A low pressure area over Jharkhand and adjacent areas is also assisting the trough by bringing more moisture.

Rains are expected to be heavy to very heavy at a few places over east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya during the next forty eight hours. While heavy to very heavy showers would lash one or two places over Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh.

Rain belt is reducing over Saurashtra and Kutch, Gujarat region, east Rajasthan, central and west Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Vidarbha. The upper air cyclonic circulation still persists over Kutch and neighboring areas. Light rain at a few places would continue over these regions during the next twenty four hours and would subdue significantly after this period.

Along the west coast, the offshore trough persists and extends from Gujarat coast to Kerala coast. Light rain with moderate at a few places would occur during the next twenty four hours. While in the Southern Peninsula interiors would witness a reduction in rainfall activities and weather system are not present over the entire region. Interiors of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will witness less rainfall activities which would increase temperatures by 2 to 4 degrees during the next forty eight hours. Some areas in Tamil Nadu might experience temperatures into forties.

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits west Sumatra

New Delhi, Friday,September 14, An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck off Sumatra Island at 11.51 am but Tsunami warning has been ruled out till now and there were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.
The epicenter of the earthquake is reported at a depth of 25 kilometers off northwest Bengkulu town. Indonesia sits on “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean where continental plate collides, triggering regular seismic and volcanic activities.

Rain scarcity could extend the dengue menace season in Kolkata

New Delhi, Thursday, September 13, The dengue outbreak in Kolkata may take time to wane unless the rainfall activities intensifies over the next two weeks. Scanty rain could prolong the breeding season of Aedes Aegypti - the mosquito, which carries the dengue virus - usually breeds between July and September. In the absence of heavy rain, puddles the breeding ground of the mosquito remains very active as scanty rainwater fails to flush them out.

The mosquito could survive beyond September, depending on the temperature and humidity. Usually, it dies out once the temperature falls below 22°C. But, they can adapt and survive even in mild winter. So, removing the breeding grounds is key to eradicate dengue outbreak, which is only possible when incessant rainwater removes the breeding grounds.

Rains have been scanty over the historical city throughout this monsoon. The normal rainfall during the monsoon season in Kolkata is 1348.4 mm while it has been scanty by 34% during this season. The total rainfall the city received during this monsoon is 890 mm.

The month of June recorded 178.40 mm of rain against the normal rainfall of 283.5 mm. During July this season, Kolkata received 248.70 mm against the normal rainfall of 399.9 mm. During August, 252.70 mm of rain received by Kolkata against the normal rainfall of 352.4 mm while by September 12 this year the city received 210.20 mm of rain against the normal rainfall of 312. 6 mm.

Weather worldwide to hit Wheat

New Delhi, Thursday September 13, Weather worldwide is expected to bring down wheat production resulting in soaring prices. Major producer and exporter countries are facing erratic weather that would affect wheat production and supply prospects in coming month if not now.

Hot and dry weather in the US this summer has ravaged corn and soybean crops, sending prices soaring but now concerns are rising that the similar weather pattern could hit the global wheat supply.

Australia, where harvesting is set to start in a month, too has revised its production estimate saying rainfall is needed soon to prevent further falls in production. If heat cuts Australian production further, , prices could shoot up $10 a bushel. In Australia, which is expected to provide 16% of the world's wheat exports, it is crunch time. The crop is entering a crucial growing stage leading up to the harvest starting next month.

Due to heat, harvesting in Russia got affected, forcing the country to announce a ban on wheat export from November. The weak monsoon season in India, which has emerged as the leading wheat exporter too as less rain can undercut conditions for planting that starts next month.

If the troubles in weather continue, the risk of soaring food prices come to the fore of global concerns.

Wheat is a staple food around the world and a major source of basic nutrition for the poor, and prior price spikes in recent years contributed to the political unrest.

Rains remain intact over east and northeast; Showers to increase over northwest plains

New Delhi, Thursday September 13, The rain belt from east Uttar Pradesh to northeastern states remains intact during the next twenty four hours. Rains could be heavy at a few places over the region. An increase in rainfall activities is foreseen over the northwest plains during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. The rains would subdue over Saurashtra and Kutch during the next twenty four hours.

The eastern end of the monsoon trough has moved and now lies somewhat north. The monsoon trough passes through Ganganagar, Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jamshedpur, Balasore and then southeastwards to the eastcentral Bay of Bengal. A trough is found from east Uttar Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal and the other one passes through east Uttar Pradesh to the northeastern region.

East Uttar Pradesh, north and east Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim in the east would receive showers. Light to moderate rain is expected to continue over these areas during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. Rains could be heavy at one or two places during this period.

Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh in the northwest plains would see thunder storm activities during the next twenty four hours. Rains would increase over these areas after twenty four hours as the western end of the monsoon trough is expected to be active.

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand can expect increased rainfall activities as the western end of the monsoon trough would be moving closer to the Himalayan foothills during the next twenty four to forty eight hours.

In the Southern Peninsula, rains could stay along the coasts but interiors would see subdued rainfall and rise in temperatures during the next twenty four hours. Along the West coast, moderate rain is expected to continue during the next twenty four hours. The seasonal offshore trough from Gujarat to Kerala coast persists and is prominent along the Karnataka coast. Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala would receive moderate showers at a few places during this period.

While on the east coast north Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh could receive rain at a few places during the next twenty four hours. A trough is seen along the east coast from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu. The interiors of Tamil Nadu along with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra would see subdued rainfall activities with a rising temperature trend.

Erratic weather hits domestic tea output

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 12, The domestic tea production between the period January to July dropped 4.23 percent to 470.76 million Kg from 491.59 million kg from the same period last year due to unsettled weather. In West Bengal the output came down by 4.5 million kg to 105.88 million kg during these seven months.

During the month of July the state produced 33.48 million kg of tea against 33.93 million kg in the same month last year. Darjeeling contributed with 1.34 million kg a rise of 7.2 percent against 1.25 million kg during the same month last year. However, the output in the Dooars fell to 19.87 million kg from 23.80 million last year. The production rose in Terai by 38.10 percent to 12.25 million kg from 8.87 million kg last year.

During the month of July, tea production in Assam dropped by 2.44 percent to 67.92 million kg from 69.62 million kg last year. Cachar, output increased by 0.14 million kg to 6.83 million kg. During the months of January to July the total production of tea in Assam stood at 223.45 million kg against 234.31 million kg during the same period last year.

The output in north India declined 1.77 per cent to 109.95 million kg in July this year from 111.94 million kg in 2011. Tea production in south India grew 6.56 per cent to 22.72 million kg from 21.32 million kg in July 2011. Tamil Nadu contributed 16.76 million kg, Kerala 5.52 million kg  and Karnataka 0.44 million kg.

A very intense typhoon heading southern Japan

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 12, Sanba, a tropical storm would strengthen into a typhoon by Thursday sending large swells towards Taiwan and the Philippines. Sanba would remain out to the sea until the weekend when it will possibly hit the southern Japan.

Just two days into its existence, Sanba has already been upgraded to Category 1-equivalent typhoon status, and continues its rapid intensification. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is now forecasts Sanba to roar 42 miles southwest of Okinawa at 3 pm Sunday, packing sustained 132-mph winds and 161-mph gusts at its center. There is every chance, it could achieve super-typhoon status. Sanba continues to get bigger, fatter and monstrous with every passing warning from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's forecast track has Sanba rolling through the Okinawa area rather quickly, and then steaming north toward the Korean peninsula early next week. Nourishing itself over warm ocean waters, Sanba will continue on course for an almost-direct hit on Okinawa. After striking Japan, the storm is expected to push into the north and the west Korean Peninsula. Elsewhere in the Pacific, there is no sign of tropical activities.

Showers expected to increase over Delhi, NCR; rainfall activities to continue to over east and northeastern states

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 12, Rainfall activities are likely to pick up in Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh. Rain belt will also cover northwest Madhya Pradesh, central Uttar Pradesh. East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Jharkhand. West Bengal, Sikkim and the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh would continue to receive showers.

Rainfall activities are expected to receive a spike as the western end of the monsoon trough is shifting northwards. Due to this shift, Delhi, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh would experience a subsequent increase in rainfall during the next twenty four to seventy two hours.

Starting from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan the monsoon trough is passing through the center of the low pressure area, Satna, Daltonganj, Balasore and thence southeastwards to the eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Monsoon trough is essentially a region of intensified monsoon winds.

Just like the western end, the eastern end of the monsoon trough is also moving in a northward direction and would be closer to the Himalayan foothill during the next forty eight to seventy two hours. With this movement, rain would begin to increase over east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim and over the northeastern states in Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Rains could be heavy at one or two places over the northeastern states.

However, along with the movement of the monsoon trough in the region, north Madhya Pradesh is also containing a low pressure area, which has become less marked. But, there is still enough moisture in it to bring showers over north and west Madhya, east Rajasthan and east Gujarat region.

The other low pressure area over southeast Pakistan now lies over Kutch and neighbourhood. The southwesterly winds are keeping this weather system alive for the next twenty four to thirty six hours. Saurashtra and Kutch will receive showers during this period. Rain is expected to say goodbye to this region due to the change in the direction of the winds from southwesterly to westerly. This will defuse the system over Kutch.

Due to the same factor, the offshore trough along the west coast is moving away from the coast and becoming less active. The winds from the deep Arabian Sea is giving way to the dry westerly winds.  Light rain is expected to continue over the region during the next twenty four hours. Due to a reduction in the rainfall activities, temperatures are expected to increase over these areas.

Devala 'the Cherrapunji of the south records 356 mm rain in a day

New Delhi, Tuesday, September 11, Devala, a town near Gudalur, in the Nilgiris, has created a record of sorts as it registered 356 mm of rainfall on a single day from the morning of September 9 to the morning of September 10. This is the highest rainfall recorded in a day in Devala starting from Sunday 8.30 am to Monday 8.30 am. There is no recent record of such heavy rainfall in Devala, this rain-gifted area is learn to have recorded 287 mm of rain in a single day on July 15, 1924.

Prior to this, the last twenty four hours ending on Saturday 8.30 am., Devala recorded 130 mm of rainfall, Avalanchi, a catchment area received 41 mm, Naduvattam - 34, Gudalur – 32. Upper Bhavani - 22, Ketti -12 mm and Coonoor-9 mm.

The picturesque town is known to receive a little over 3000 mm of rainfall a year. The town surrounded by beautiful woods, tea gardens, hills, valleys and streams, is known for receiving heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris, especially during the southwest monsoon. It is also popularly called 'second Cherrapunji' or Cherrapunji of south India.

Though, the precipitation was far below normal for this part of the year, it was received with folded hands by the people in general and the farmers in particular. Farmers in Avalanchi, Emerald and their surroundings said that for the past few days they had received good rains.

Rain improves Kharif crops in Rajasthan

New Delhi, Tuesday, September 11, Rajasthan is one of the three states where rainfall has been above the normal during this monsoon season, yet the scarcity of rain due to late onset of the southwest monsoon had raised concern over the Kharif sowing in the the state. But, now as the state is oozing with rainwater due to surplus rainfall in the months of August and September, the Kharif sowing has improved significantly in the state.

The state has achieved 127 lakh hectares out of 150 lakh hectares targeted for Kharif sowing this year, till September 5. Nine districts have gone beyond 100% while 14 have achieved above 90% of their sowing targets. Though it is still short from the last year's 142 lakh hectares but, the picture looks good after state has received late monsoon rain. As the season is expected to push another round of rainfall during the next three days the state is expected to fulfill its sowing target.

These improvements in Kharif crops in the state owe to good rain during the month of August when a total of 2161.70 mm of rain received. The state also received 780.20 mm of rain till September 10. The state received a total of 3869.50 mm of rain during this monsoon till now.

The late arrival of monsoon has completely changed the crop pattern in the state. Bajra, which serves the dual purposes for the farmers as fodder and crop, has paved way to pulses and Jowar and oilseeds.

Since pulses like urad, moong and moth need less water compared to Bajra, farmers sowed them in bounty fearing less rainfall this year. However, Bajra, after heavy rain caught up achieved 66% of the target sowing.

 

Rainfall activities expected to increase over east and northeast; rain continues in MP, Gujarat and Rajasthan

New Delhi, Tuesday, September 11, Rainfall activities are likely to pick up over the east and the northeastern region during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. Showers would continue over central India in Gujarat region, southeast Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha during the next twenty four hours. Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat will receive good showers during this period.

Showers are expected to increase over the east and the northeastern region of the country in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, east and central Uttar Pradesh during the next twenty four to forty eight hours as the eastern part of the monsoon trough is shifting northwards.

The shift of the eastern end of the monsoon trough would also increase rainfall activities over the sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh during this period. Very heavy rain is expected at one or two places over these regions during the next forty eight hours.

The trough is passing through Phalodi, Guna, center of the low pressure area, Sambalpur, Chandbali and then southeastwards to the eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Monsoon trough is essentially a region of intensified monsoon winds.

The low pressure area over central parts of Chhattisgarh now lies over east Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas of Chhattisgarh. An associated upper air cyclonic circulation extends up to mid-trospheric levels, tilting southwestwards in height. These weather systems would make sure continuation of the rainfall activities in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha and Gujarat region during the next twenty four to forty eight hours.

The low pressure area over southeast Pakistan and southeast Rajasthan has moved westward a bit and now lies over southeast Pakistan and neighborhood. This low pressure area would interact with the seasonal offshore trough extending from Gujarat coast to Kerala coast. This interaction would give rain over Saurashtra and Kutch during the next twenty four hours.

The seasonal offshore trough remains active and the rainfall activities would continue along the West coast in Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. These areas would receive light to moderate rain during the next twenty four hours. The rainfall activities remain subdued over western Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and temperatures are rising over these areas. Some areas in Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh could receive light rain, due to the rise in temperatures and the presence of moist southeasterly winds as they can develop clouds.







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