Skymet weather

Dip in mercury continues across Rajasthan

New Delhi, Mercury continues to dip across Rajasthan due to the presence of a cyclonic circulation and prevalence of cool and dry northerly winds. Churu remained the coldest place in northwest plains as it recorded a minimum of 6.8 on Sunday, November 25.

Western Rajasthan that is already witnessing winter could experience drastic drop in temperatures during the coming week. Churu was followed by Pilani at 9.6 degrees Celsius, Sriganganagar 10.1, Jaisalmer 11.8, Chittorgarh 11.9, Bikaner 12.0, Udaipur 12.4, Jodhpur 12.5, Kota 14.4 and Barmer recorded a minimum temperature of 15.0 degrees Celsius.

Minimum temperature is around 12-13 degrees in Jaipur, the state capital and it is expected to go down to 9-10 degrees during the coming week. A significant fall in day temperatures was also recorded at many places in the state. Maximum temperature in Jaipur was below normal by 2 degrees at 29.5 degrees on Sunday.

Despite being a Sunday, the streets in Jaipur looked deserted, whereas, those who braved the chill and arrived at shopping malls and hang out joints were sporting woolens. Early morning mist is also bothering farmers as it is harmful for vegetable crops.

Climate change likely to double sweet Potato size in 100 years

Sweet Potato, an increasingly popular staple food in Asia and Africa is expected to grow as much as double of its size by the turn of the century, a research revealed. The research from Hope Jahren from the University of Hawaii at Manao and colleagues revealed that in a Carbon dioxide (CO2)concentration of 760 ppm ( parts per million), the sweet potato tubers - the fifth most important food crop in the developing world - grew up to 96 per cent larger.

According to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) prediction, the atmospheric CO2 levels will be between 500 and 1000 ppm by the year 2100. The current level of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere is about 390 parts per million.

Researchers are now testing the effect of such high level of CO2 in the atmosphere on the nutrition of a food, which is increasingly becoming staple food as it has more edible energy per hectare per day than wheat, rice or cassava. The previous studies, crucially, revealed the protein content in wheat, rice, barley and potatoes dropped by 15 per cent when grown under CO2 levels double those of today.

Cool winds resume in north as WD weakens; easterlies to prevail along the east coast

New Delhi, The Western Disturbance over Jammu & Kashmir and adjacent areas has weakened that allowed cool and dry winds from central Asia to infiltrate the Indo-Gangetic plains where temperatures are expected to fall by another 2-3 degrees during the next 24 to 48 hours.

The chill is expected to prevail till another Western Disturbance (moist and relatively warm winds originating in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean) make an entry around November 28. The winds associated with the weather system generally bring moisture and clouds into the region and prevent severe cold winds from the Himalayas from affecting the plains up to some extent. So, any respite from cool winds or increase in the minimum temperatures can only be expected from Wednesday, November 28 onwards.

Snowfall or rain is likely to continue at one or two places over Jammu & Kashmir till then. It would pick-up again by November 28 onwards. Snowfall/rain at a few places over Himachal Pradesh and at one or two places over Uttarakhand is expected around that time.

However, remnants of the erstwhile Western Disturbance, which was moving eastwards after making an exit from east Jammu & Kashmir are affecting upper parts of northeastern states in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Rain is expected at one or two places in these states during the next 24 hours.

Towards south, a weather system (cyclonic circulation) is persisting over the southern tip of the country near Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is expected to give light rain in these places during the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, another low pressure area is about to form over the Andaman Sea that will receive light to moderate rain during the next 24 hours. The weather system is expected to move in a northerly direction towards Myanmar. Due to no consequential weather system, easterlies are expected to resume and continue along the east coast during the next 24 to 48 hours.

Rain in the Peninsula; Boon or Bane!

New Delhi, A boon for some, a bane for others: the southern Peninsula received heavy rain at many places this year, not only because of the cyclone Nilam but also due to the recurring storm like conditions developing in the Bay of Bengal. ‘Boon’ because the farmers of Tamil Nadu got enough water for their Rabi crop which otherwise could not have been possible from the weak northeast monsoon this year. ‘Bane’ because heavy rain along with the gusty winds (90kmph) during Nilam, uprooted acres of crops and flooded many villages, also leaving many homeless.

This year after the cyclone, rain in Tamil Nadu was recorded at 315.1mm which is extremely close to the normal digits of 315.2mm. Whereas Andhra Pradesh recorded an overflow of rain at 407mm compared to the normal average figure of 279.8mm, 46% over normal levels. Thus the heavy spells from the cyclonic development that hammered south India helped in a way to compensate for the gap which could have been created otherwise due to a faint monsoon and helped the digits reach very close to the normal level of rain recorded in the past years. Though even then, some places experienced a deficit. Pondicherry recorded 160.4mm of rainfall which is -12% less than the normal level of 182.8mm every year.

Tirupati recording an unusual (139.7mm) amount of rain in one day on Nov 22-23 and more rain expected tomorrow has put the farmers in a dilemma once again. Scientists and agriculturists advise storing the already harvested crops in dry places, making ‘bunds’ for crops that are already transplanted, to prevent them from getting uprooted and to leave the crops that are ready for harvesting as they are. They can be harvested as soon as the rain abates, i.e. in 48 hours.

It is noticed that it’s the farmer that faces the brunt even though such conditions are being forecast. Instead of organizing relief camps or introducing farmers plans only after the anomaly has struck, the authorities need to plan better and take due action to prevent damages caused in such situations.

Potato sowing in WB delayed due to Cyclone 'Nilam' rain

New Delhi, Potato sowing is running late by over a fortnight in West Bengal due to untimely rain in October and early November. Sowing of Potato usually starts by this time of the year and ends by mid-December.

Rains were witnessed in these parts under the effect of the Cyclone 'Nilam' that kept the soil damp and skies cloudy at a time when Potato is supposed to be sown. The delay in harvesting of paddy on account of poor monsoon this year has also led to a delay in sowing of potatoes in the State.

The remunerative prices the tuber fetched this year is encouraging farmers to sow the crop this season despite the increase in input costs. Potato prices had been on an upward trend since February this year on account of a dip in production. Potato production dropped to about 85 lakh tones in 2011-12, against 95 lakh tones last year.

Heading for snowfall view in J&K, take a look at road ahead

New Delhi, The hills in Jammu and Kashmir are witnessing snowfall since mid-week and this is expected to continue during the weekend as well. So, it’s a great time to travel the region if you want to pick a snow fight. Here, we’re penned down a road map, which will help you to track snowfall and other weather conditions like minimum and maximum temperatures, rain, skies, etc. along the highway that will take you through the white mountains:

The National Highway N1 A, which is a part of north-south corridor and connects Srinagar with other parts of country, will be the main route to reach out to snowfall areas. Jammu will be the first destination or the point where you can halt to view the scenic valley and its snowfall.

So, the maximum and the minimum at Jammu would be around 20 and 10 degrees during the next two days. The temperatures would start falling as you reach higher altitudes. Rains would accompany you from the plains and turn into snow as you travel further up. Gulmarg, Pehalgam and the summer capital Srinagar are expected to receive snowfall along the way.  The maximum at Srinagar would fluctuate between 12 to 9 degrees till Sunday while the minimum would dip to zero on Saturday to again rise to 1 degree on Sunday. So, plan your trip, enjoy it and do tell us your experience in the comments section below.

Western Disturbance keeps temperatures stable over NW India; low pressure area bringing rain in south

New Delhi, Yesterday's Western Disturbance over north Pakistan is now closer to Jammu & Kashmir and can arrive anytime during the next 24 hours. The other Western Disturbance lies over east Jammu and Kashmir and is expected to move out during the next 24 hours. These back to back weather systems would keep the temperatures stable during the next two days over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Under the aegis of these two weather systems, snowfall is expected to occur at a few places over Jammu & Kashmir. Leh, Srinagar, Pehalgam, and Gulmarg would receive light snowfall in a couple of days. Rain would also be witnessed in the plains at these areas. The sky will be cloudy to party cloudy in this period. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, rains could occur at one or two places in the hills, during the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a significant fall of two to three degrees in minimum temperatures is likely over east India in east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa in the next 24 hours. The northwesterly cool and dry winds would reach these areas to drop the minimums. The temperatures were stable due to cloudiness under the effect of a weather system (the low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal) for the last few days.  The maximum temperature would also rise a bit as the sky will become clearer.

The low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal is now close to the coastal areas of south Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu. Many places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, north Tamil Nadu will receive rain during the next 24 hours. Rain would decrease over these areas thereafter.

Rains would further make inroads into interiors reaching Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, south interior Karnataka and Kerala. South Tamil Nadu and Kerala will receive rain at a few places during the next 24 hours. Rain would increase over these places after this period. Rain would also occur at one or two places over south interior Karnataka, north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the next 24 hours.

 

World bank warns temperatures could rise by 4 degrees in about 50 years

New Delhi, The Word Bank has warned that without immediate action global temperatures could rise up to 4 degrees in the next 50 years. Global temperatures have already risen about 0.8 degrees. This unprecedented rise in temperature comes with increased risk of extreme rainfall and drought.

River basins like the Ganga would be particularly vulnerable to changes in seasonal runoff, which would affect availability of water. It would also lead to inundation of coastal areas. And India with its long coastline would be vulnerable.

Acidity of seas is expected to rise at an unprecedented level as well, threatening the livelihood of millions of fishermen. Ensuring adequate food and agricultural output to meet the demands of a rising population and levels of income will then be a greater challenge.

At Cancun in 2010, countries had agreed to contain global temperature to 2 degrees by 2100. However, the scientists and analysts have maintained that action being taken by countries to reduce emissions is not enough to meet this temperature goal. Further talks on climate change, sponsored by the United Nations, are expected next week at Doha.

Weather helps to reduce dengue cases in New Delhi

New Delhi, Persisting low minimum and maximum temperatures and smog have lent a hand to put a break on the spread of dengue as less number of cases have been reported in the month of November compared to September and October in the national capital New Delhi.

The continuous low temperatures and smog around Diwali have largely stopped the breeding of dengue mosquitoes and as the winter is about to set in, dengue menace would be finally over within a fortnight or so.

Though cases are still being reported but a usual 10-14 days is the incubation period (the time between being exposed to infection and showing first symptoms) for the disease to show up after a person is bitten. So even if smog and change in temperatures have reduced mosquito breeding, cases will continue to be reported for a few more days.

1799 cases of dengue cases have been reported in New Delhi until now including four proving fatal. Dengue mosquito starts breeding just towards the end of the monsoon season as it did this season.

Low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal likely to make landfall; another Western Disturbance to arrive over J&K

New Delhi, The low pressure area in west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, off coastal Andhra Pradesh, is likely to make a landfall during the next 24 hours. The Western Disturbance persisting over Jammu & Kashmir is likely to move out of the region during the next 24 hours but another Western Disturbance is expected to follow up the system in the next few days.

The well-marked low pressure area off coastal Andhra Pradesh is expected to make a landfall during the next 24 hours and it is likely to weaken further. Under its influence, heavy rain is expected along the Andhra coast at one or two places. Light to moderate rain would continue at a few places in south Andhra Pradesh and at many places along its coast during the next 48 hours. Rain would decrease after this period.

However, the weakening system would further move towards interiors of southern Peninsula over Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Rain would be witnessed at a few places over Rayalaseema and at one or two places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala during the next 24 hours. Rain would increase over Tamil Nadu and Kerala and more places will experience rain thereafter.

In the north, the Western Disturbance(moist and warm winds originating in the Mediterranean Sea)  over Jammu & Kashmir and its neighborhood is moving east-northeastwards and it is expected to exit from the region during the next 24 hours. It will give snowfall at a few places over Jammu & Kashmir and at one or two places overHimachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The weather over northwest, central and east India became colder and drier after the exit of the Western Disturbance in the past due to resumption of cool and dry northerlies as well as the melting of ice, but that will not take place this time as another Western Disturbance may make an entry again to stop the flow of northerly winds after 48 to 72 hours. The coming Western Disturbance is persisting over north Pakistan as of now.

Mumbai to get reprieve from chill

New Delhi, The fall in minimum temperature over the commercial capital Mumbai is expected to come to a gradual halt during the next 48 hours. This would certainly provide relief to Mumbaikars who were reeling under the effect of high maximum temperatures and low minimums. The maximum temperature over Mumbai is recorded to be around 33 degrees while the minimum nosedived by almost four degrees (from 20 to 16) during the last few days.

The winds (easterly) associated with the low pressure area (in the Bay of Bengal) are expected to send moisture and clouds that would impact the prevailing minimum and the maximum temperatures. The cloudiness will block radiation (heat) received from the sun while the same reason would not let the maximum temperatures not rise much.

So, from tomorrow onwards, the fall in the minimum temperature would be arrested and an increasing trend would be witnessed. There would be incursion of moisture from the easterly winds from November 23.

Mumbai is hosting the second test match between England and India between November 23 and November 27 and the weather is expected to be perfect during the first three days of the match. But the players would have to sweat more on the fourth and the fifth days of the match due to the arrival of more moisture and consequent spike in humidity.







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