Just before the onset of Monsoon, the states of Kerala and Karnataka have recorded moderate to heavy rain. In a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Sunday, Kochi and Kottayam in Kerala have recorded 39.4 mm and 31.4 mm of rain, respectively. While the state capital Thiruvananthapuram has observed 15 mm of rain.
Some places in neighbouring Karnataka have also experienced good amounts of rain during the same period. For instance Bangalore has recorded 24 mm of rain, while Gadag and Belgaum have observed 39 mm and 24 mm of rain, respectively.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, an upper air cyclonic circulation is prevailing over Lakshadweep and its adjoining areas. Another cyclonic circulation is existing over Southwest Bay of Bengal, off Tamil Nadu coast. A trough is also extending from Chhattisgarh to interior Tamil Nadu across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
These weather systems are acting in tandem to give rain over the region. And according to weathermen at Skymet, these systems are expected to give fairly widespread rain and thundershowers over Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for next 48 hours.
Thereafter, rainfall over Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will reduce. However, it will extend to cover some more parts of the west coast by June 5. Gradually the rainfall activity will also cover the Maharashtra coast as a low pressure is likely to form over the Arabian Sea, which will move in a northwest direction.
Meanwhile, weathermen at Skymet say that these rainfall amounts should not be construed as the onset of Monsoon. For the onset there are several weather parameters that need to be fulfilled and weather models show that these factors are still not being met, particularly the wind pattern. Currently the winds are blowing from the northwest direction whereas they should be southwesterlies or westerlies. Therefore, we can say that Kerala is still observing pre-Monsoon rain.
Image Credit: thehindu.com
