The erratic weather system in the Bay of Bengal has shifted further and is now positioned over West Bengal and adjoining Bihar as a low pressure area. It has an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5 km in the upper layers.
The system has brought in a lot of activity in the past 48 hours, particularly over West Bengal. Malda has received a total of 221 mm of rain till 8.30 am on Wednesday, while Alipore in Kolkata received 191 mm. But, as was expected, rain has reduced over Odisha.
Journey of the Low pressure area
In next 24 hours the system will travel and expand to cover Bihar and Jharkhand. It will take another day to reach east Uttar Pradesh and finally break up over west Uttar Pradesh and adjoining hills between the 7th and 8th of July. The system will make a slow progress, expanding to cover almost entire East India but will reduce in intensity. As far as rain is concerned, even parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Vidarbha, east Madhya Pradesh will receive rain besides West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Here’ a look at the prominent features of the system-
- The present system has been crucial for mitigating the rain deficiency in other parts of the country.
- It is responsible for establishing the Monsoon trough, important for bringing Monsoon rain along the Indo Gangetic plains.
- It has a good life span and is expected to last for a total of 7 to 8 days.
- The low pressure area is also intensifying the Monsoon surge along the West Coast. Consequently, Mumbai has received 105 mm of rain in a span of 3 hours from 8.30 am on Wednesday. According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Konkan and Goa are also likely to receive good rain.
- We have already said that this weather system has been lingering on for quite some time, bringing good Monsoon rain over East India. It is likely to persist for another 5 days.
- The system has been erratic, showing signs of intensification at times and then again disorganising. There has been no consistency in terms of cloud formation as well, with a cluster of thick clouds quickly scattering away.
- Any low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal brings easterly winds over Northeast India, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, which reduces the intensity of rain over the region. Rain picks up after the system moves away towards Bihar and Jharkhand.
