December 27: Depression over Sri Lanka coast and southwest Bay could bring rain over Kolkata during New Year’s Eve
The depression over Sri Lanka coast and southwest Bay of Bengal remains stationary but continues to bring good showers in eastern parts of the country. The system is likely to linger on for some time and intensify very slowly. As per weather models at Skymet, the system will gradually move in the northeast direction and affect the Indian states on the east coast.
In a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Friday, Pottuvil received 17 mm, Batticaloa 101 mm, Trincomalee 39 mm and Babunia received 6 mm of rain.
The weather system will skirt away from the east coast of India towards Bangladesh and Myanmar by next weekend. While skirting away, it will bring isolated showers over Andhra coast, Tamil Nadu coast, Orissa and coastal areas of West Bengal. In view of this system Kolkata, which has been dry for more than 80 days, could receive some rain. Thus, the city of joy might welcome the New Year with some much-awaited rainfall.
As have been already mentioned by Skymet, Chennai could also receive some rainfall and cover up the rain deficit of 20% in the last leg of Northeast Monsoon.
December 26: Depression over Bay of Bengal wreaks havoc in Sri Lanka, to affect Chennai soon
The low pressure area, extending up to 1.5 km, which formed over southwest Bay of Bengal on Thursday, intensified into a depression on Friday morning.
The system has been bringing torrential rains in Sri Lanka for last three days and will continue for at least another 48 hours. It will gradually move in the northeast direction and affect the Indian states on the east coast, including Chennai, within next 24 to 36 hours.
In a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Thursday, Pottuvil received 276 mm of rain, Batticaloa 124 mm, Kurunegala 119 mm, Kandy 97 mm and Galle received 80 mm. On Wednesday also Pottuvil received 82 mm of rain while Kurunegala recorded 137 mm.
The weather system brewing over the bay will ultimately reach Bangladesh and Myanmar by next weekend. For the time being, Northeast Monsoon rains will pick up strength along the east coast. Consequently, Chennai could cover up the rain deficit of 20% in the last leg of Northeast Monsoon.
According to Dr. R M Saxena from Skymet, there is a remote possibility that it might attain the status of a full-fledged cyclonic storm.
A fresh Western Disturbance will also affect North India over next weekend. The present weather system over the Bay will linger on and could work in tandem with the Western Disturbance to bring rain over North India. Thereby, fog and degrading air quality over the area could improve considerably.
