Skymet weather

Rapid ice melting leads to smallest amount of ice in Arctic Ocean

New Delhi, Friday, September 21, The Arctic sea ice, a key indicator of climate change, melted to its lowest level on record this year before beginning its autumnal freeze. The extent of ice probably hit its low point on September 16, when it covered 1.32 million square miles (3.42 million square km) of the Arctic Ocean, the smallest amount since satellite records began 33 years ago. Changing weather conditions could further shrink the extent.

The record was broken on August 26, when the ice shrank below the record set in 2007. After that, it kept melting for three more weeks, bringing the ice extent - defined as the area covered by at least 15 percent ice - to nearly half of the 1979-2000 average.

While we have long known that as the planet warms up, changes would be seen first and be most pronounced in the Arctic, few of us were prepared for how rapidly the changes would actually occur.

The summer ice is not just dwindling. It is also thin, relatively fragile seasonal ice instead of the hardier multi-year ice that can better withstand bright sunlight.

The Arctic is a potent weather-maker for the temperate zone, and is sometimes dubbed Earth's air conditioner for its cooling effects. However, as ice wanes and temperatures rise in the far north, the Arctic could add more heat and moisture to the climate system.

East, eastcentral and northeast to stay with showers; Tamil Nadu heading for rain

New Delhi, Friday, September 21, Rain is expected at many places over the northeast region during the next twenty four hours. During the same period, rain would occur at a few places over east and eastcentral regions. There is a reduction in rain along the west coast. Showers are likely to invade the eastern coast in Tamil Nadu as well as interior Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh during the next twenty four hours.

The eastern end of the monsoon trough is still very much active in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country. The eastern end of the trough is effective from Gorakhpur to Gangetic West Bengal while one of its branches is reaching up to Arunachal Pradesh covering sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

Many places over these areas would continue to experience showers during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. Rains could be heavy to very heavy at a few places over these regions. In hilly areas, it can also cause landslide.

Eastern, eastcentral and north Andhra Pradesh would witness rain at a few places during the next twenty four hours. Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal will receive rain under the influence of the eastern end of the monsoon trough. Monsoon trough is essentially a region of intensified monsoon winds.

North Orissa, Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, north Andhra Pradesh and Vidarbha would get the rain due to the presence of a cyclonic circulation and a trough extending from Bihar to north Andhra Pradesh. Some part of interior Maharashtra, east Gujarat and south Rajasthan could also witness light showers during this period as moisture are still reaching up to these regions.

Another feeble trough is foreseen over Tamil Nadu coast where the southeasterly would reach up to north interior Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to bring rain. Isolated light to moderate rain can be expected over these areas during the next twenty four hours.

Along the West coast, a cyclonic circulation is seen over the eastcentral Arabian Sea off Maharashtra and Karnataka coast but will it be strengthen enough to bring rain?, it is still being observed. The offshore seasonal trough has become less marked. Light rain at isolated places would continue along the coast during the next twenty four hours.

Pleasant weather over the northwest region

New Delhi, Thursday, September 20, Monsoon rain has finally said a goodbye to the northwest region with the arrival of the northwesterly winds but the weather over the region is likely to be pleasant during the next four to five days as the dry winds would not let you feel the heat.

The bright sun would keep shining throughout the day in the absence of monsoon clouds but that would not make life uncomfortable as the erstwhile moisture in the air has been taken away by the north northwesterly winds thus turning the weather into a dry one.

Most of the cities in the region would record maximum temperatures between 32 to 35 degrees. With the onset of the new winds, the morning would be fresh and perfect to start jogging. During the evening also, people in this part of the country would relish the cozy weather with a wind speed of around 15-20 kmph.

The weather would remain pleasant and enjoyable till the onset of the next Western Disturbance over Jammu & Kashmir, which would again bring some rain in the hilly areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Deserts in Jaisalmer and Bikaner turn green

New Delhi, Thursday, September 20, The surprising late surge of the southwest monsoon in Rajasthan continued for the fourth straight years turning the gray desert land into a green lush field. The rain after mid-August over the region has given way to gushing rivers and water bodies filled to the brim in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts.

The pattern of heavy rain in the second half the monsoon season has more or less been the norm in the last three-four years. Due to this pattern many desert villages in the region are looking greener than ever before. The rains have solved the problem of fodder and water but it is hard to imagine that the threat of drought loomed in this very region a little more than a month ago.

In western Rajasthan, the monsoon rainfall was 15% above the normal as of September 18. The major part of it has been received since the second week of August. As of August 22 the region was short by 25% in terms of rain with villages facing severe water crisis.

Rain hasn't stopped as yet. So much so that Jaisalmer received 220.7 mm of rain against the average rainfall of 165 mm. Weekly deviations from normal rains in the district between August 8 and September 12 were 268%, -44%, 37%, 300% and 381%. In Bikaner too, the story is no different. The desert district has recorded 202 mm of rain and the twin district of Barmer is greener than it has even been.

Dry northwesterly wind covers northwest, central India; southeasterly now confines to east and NE

New Delhi, Thursday, September 20, The north northwesterly winds from central Asia have reached and covered the northwest and lowers level of central region. Temperatures are expected to rise over the entire country but the northeast region would continue to experience low temperatures as they would get rain during the next twenty four hours.

The western end of the monsoon trough has been dissolved by the now prevailing north northwesterly winds in the northwest region. The morning and the evening over the entire region would become pleasant. The sky would remain clean and bright sunshine would be witnessed. With the retreat of the southwest monsoon, humidity levels in the air will decrease and dryness would increase.

But the east and northeast parts of the country would continue to receive rain. A trough has formed from Bihar to coastal Andhra Pradesh and is expected to keep bringing rain for the next two to three days over Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. An upper air cyclonic circulation is also persisting over Jharkhand and adjoining areas to garner rain over these regions including Vidarbha during the next twenty four hours.

Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast would continue to experience rainfall activities during the next twenty four to forty eight hours as the eastern end of the monsoon trough is still prominent and bringing enough moisture for moderate precipitation. One or two places over these areas can receive heavy to very heavy downpour during the next forty eight hours.

There is a feeble trough formed over north interior Karnataka and adjoining Andhra Pradesh. Rainfall activities are expected over these regions during the next twenty four hours. However, the offshore seasonal trough is now too feeble to bring rain along the West coast. Light rain at isolated places is expected to continue along the coast due to the prevalent moist southwesterly winds. The feeble trough is extending from Maharashtra to north Karnataka coast.

In the southern Peninsula, Tamil Nadu would keep on witnessing dry weather along with rise in temperatures. Rain is now away from the western parts of the country in Gujarat region, Saurashtra and Kutch.

Unseasonal snowfall closed Rohtang Pass

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 19, After 21 years, the higher parts of Himachal Pradesh experienced unseasonal snowfall while several other parts of the state received a handsome amount of rainfall during the last twenty four hours. Cold wave like conditions were created in the higher hills after the snowfall and the snow also closed the Rohtang Pass.

Lahaul, Spiti, Rohtang Pass, Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Sarchu, Baralacha and Chansel passes also received snowfall. Profound fall in the temperatures was also recorded at many places in the state with Manali registering 10 degrees. The tribal areas of Keylong and Kalpa recorded a low of 9.4 deg C and 11 deg C.

The heaviest rainfall of 164 mm was recorded at Hamirpur followed by Nadaun 144 mm, Mehre 139 mm, Dharmsala 135 mm, Una 126 mm, Sujanpur Tira 111 mm, Kheri 106. Shimla, the state capital recorded 45 mm of rain till Tuesday evening.

The snowfall and the increased rainfall activities are being attributed to the interaction of the western end of the Monsoon trough with the just passed Western Disturbance. But, as there is no prediction for another Western Disturbance in the next three to four days and the western end of the monsoon trough is expected to become ineffective, the rains would subdue during the next twenty four hours in the state.

Significant rise in temperatures likely over the northwest; rainfall continues over east, northeast

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 19, The temperatures over the northwest region of the country are set to rise significantly during the next week due to the absence of rainfall. However, the rainfall activities would continue in the eastern and the northeastern parts during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. Rain would also reduce along the West coast during the next twenty four hours.

Temperatures are expected to rise significantly in the region as the north northwesterly winds are approaching the region and would replace the prevailing moist southeasterly winds originating in the Bay of Bengal. However, the western end of the monsoon trough would remain active for the next twenty four hours to bring rain over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh. The cyclonic circulation over west Uttar Pradesh would also induce rains. Light to moderate rainfall would take place over these areas during the next twenty four hours with heavy at one or two places.

The western end of the monsoon trough would also become ineffective after the next forty eight hours. The monsoon trough is passing through Churu, Lucknow, Varanasi, Gaya, Digha and thence southeastwards to the eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Monsoon trough is essentially a region of intensified monsoon winds.

The rainfall activities are likely to continue over the eastern and the northeastern states as the eastern end of the monsoon trough is still active. Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh would continue to receive moderate showers at many places during the next twenty four to forty eight hours. Downpour could be heavy at one or two places over these areas.

Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and coastal Andhra Pradesh would also receive showers at many places during the next twenty four hours due the prevailing cyclonic circulation over north Orissa.

The rainfall activities are likely to lessen profoundly over the central and western regions. The central regions in southeast Rajasthan, east Gujarat, west Madhya Pradesh and north Maharashtra would remain mainly dry during the next twenty four hours as there is no weather system to support rains.

Along the West coast, the rains are reducing at a brisk pace as the seasonal offshore trough has turned feeble. The trough is extending from Maharashtra to Karnataka coast. Though, light rain with moderate at one or two places along the coastal areas of Konkan, Goa and Karnataka would occur during the next twenty four hours. In the southern Peninsular region, the weather would remain mainly dry as the rains are reducing and boosting the mercury level.

Weather over Delhi set to change

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 19, The weather in Delhi is expected to change during the next forty eight hours. The change in weather would bring a significant rise in temperatures and the moisture in the winds would also drop. The morning and the evening would become more comfortable than earlier due to the absence of moisture leading to less sweating. The sky in the morning would be clear and the city dwellers can experience bright sunshine for the next couple of weeks.

The reason behind this weather makeover is the change in the wind pattern. The impact of the moist southeasterly winds would reduce as the north northwesterly winds have started approaching in the extreme northwest parts of the country and would be reaching Delhi during this period. These winds would push back the moist winds originating from the Bay of Bengal from the region.

The national capital is experiencing a transition phase of weather with isolated showers occurring in parts. But the rain would reduce in the coming days to give indications of the withdrawal of monsoon from this part of the country next week. The maximum temperature may rise to 36-37 degrees from 32-33 degrees and the minimum would also reach around 26-27 degrees from 24-25 degrees during this period.

Sugar production to be marginally down due to dry weather

New Delhi, Tuesday, September 18, The total sugar production in the country has been pegged at 24-25 million tonnes during the current financial year. This is marginally lower than the total production of 26 million tonnes during the financial year 2010-2011.

The rains during this season have been deficient by 12 percent as at the end of the month of August and though most of the canes producing regions are irrigated the dry weather is likely to affect the cane crop. Cane yields are expected to be affected as irrigation from the existing water reservoirs cannot make up for the deficit in rainfall.

In recent days, concerns have eased after the poor beginning of the monsoon season and in spite of speculation that the production would be badly impacted, sugar production is still projected to be nearly  1 to 2 million tonnes in excess of the consumption. Some adverse effects are expected for the cane field and sugar production. The consumption for the financial year 2012-13 is estimated to be around 22-23 million tonnes.

Despite recent betterment in the progress of the monsoon, the impact of scanty rain in the past months is still unclear and due to uncertainty about the size of the cane crop and the proportion of the cane crop milled for sugar versus alternative uses, India stays as a potential source of surprises for the global market.

Scattered thunderstorm likely during India VS Afghanistan T20 world cup tie

New Delhi, Tuesday, September 18, Scattered thunderstorms have been predicted during the evening tie between India and Afghanistan on Wednesday in Colombo in the world T20 2012. There is a 50 percent chance of rain in Colombo during the evening, which could interrupt the start of the team India campaign in this tournament.

The maximum temperature would be around 29.4°C while during the match, the temperature would be pleasant at 26.1°C. The humidity level would be around 79%. The southerly winds would be blowing over the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo with a speed of 8 km/h. There could be variations in the winds.

The world T20 cup 2012,starts with the first match between the host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe today in Hambantota at 7:30 pm (IST), where dry weather is likely to prevail with a maximum of 30°C and a minimum of 26°C.

Signs of Monsoon withdrawal emerge in the northwest; showers expected to stay in east and northeast

New Delhi, Tuesday, September 18, The signs of withdrawal of monsoon have start emerging in the northwest part of the country. The withdrawal of monsoon is expected to start from September 21 onwards. Rains are reducing over the northwest and adjoining western parts, central India and along the west coast. Showers are expected to continue over the east and northeastern states during the next twenty four hours.

The prevailing south southeasterly winds over the northwest region of the country are being replaced by the north northwesterly winds. Due to changes in the wind pattern, the conditions for the withdrawal of monsoon turning favourable. Rain is likely to reduce over the region during this period with the expectation of thunder storm activities to continue for the next couple of days.

The north northwesterly winds would diminish the presence of moisture and the sky will be open from this period onwards. The temperatures would rise gradually and significantly in the coming days over the region. The morning and the evening would be charming and pleasant with afternoon expected to be hot.

However, the rainfall activities would continue over the east and northeast parts of the country for next twenty four to forty eight hours. East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Light to moderate rainfall with heavy at a few places over the northeastern states is expected during the next forty eight hours. The upper air cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh has moved and now lies over west Uttar Pradesh and adjoining east Rajasthan.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa would get rain as the monsoon trough is affecting these regions. The trough is passing through Ganganagar, Narnaul, Agra, Satna, Ambikapur, Jharsuguda, Paradeep and thence southeastwards to the eastcentral Bay of Bengal.

The western of the monsoon trough is interacting with a passing Western Disturbance over Jammu & Kashmir. The mix-up would bring rain at one or two places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Delhi during the next twenty four hours.

Another upper air cyclonic circulation is present over Orissa to bring rain over Orissa, coastal and coastal Andhra Pradesh. Light to moderate rainfall activities would continue over these regions during the next twenty four hours.

Along the West coast, rainfall activities have reduced. The offshore seasonal trough has turned weak and now persists from Maharashtra to Karnataka coast. In the Southern Peninsula and central India rain is reducing and temperatures would remain in the rising trend during the next few days.

Grapes turn sour due to scanty rain

New Delhi, Monday, September 18, The scarcity of the rain during the month of July and August this season in the major grapes producing districts in Maharashtra has directly impacted the quality and quantity of grapes.

Nasik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Sangli and Satara have deficit rainfall during July and August. It has forced farmers to advance trimming of the grape plants to avoid loss due to water scarcity and dry conditions.

But good rains during the months of September has saved the crop but a long break in the monsoon has forced cultivators to water the farm through water tanker which added to their input cost. Farmers believe that due to rainwater shortage the quality as well as quantity of grapes would be affected.

The grape orchards in Jat, Kavate Mahankal, Vita, Atpadi in Sangli, Koregaon and Dahiwadi in Satara, Kalwan, Nandgaon, Yeola and Nifad in Nashik have been affected due to deficient rainfall.







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