Update on April 18, 2015: Widespread rain over Northeast India has started with one or two places recording heavy rain. This weather is going to prevail in the region for the next 2 to 3 days. A cyclonic circulation over Assam and Meghalaya has given rain in the region. Humid winds from the Bay of Bengal are feeding moisture to the system. Rain over the region will gradually decrease as the system moves away.
April 17, 2015: The cyclonic circulation over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and adjoining Assam region is likely to bring good amounts of rain over Northeast India. Moisture-laden southwesterly winds coming from the Bay of Bengal can be seen penetrating northeastern states. This system has led to cloud formation and is expected to bring scattered rain over the region.
Moreover, the active Western Disturbance in North India is also likely to affect the region. Such weather systems generally travel along the Terai region and gradually reach the northeastern states.
The recent Western Disturbance and the cyclonic circulation will bring widespread rain over the region during next 3-4 days. The intensity of rain will gradually increase with very heavy rains in isolated places.
In the later half of March, when North and Central India were witnessing widespread rain, Northeast India hardly received any rain, making the region rain deficit.
However, a low-level cyclonic circulation over West Bengal and adjoining Bihar and Jharkhand coupled with an anticyclonic circulation over Bay of Bengal, finally started to bring good pre-monsoon showers in the region, from March 30 onwards.
Pre-monsoon rain started in full swing as April commenced. Most places recorded over 100 mm of rain in just first five days of the month.
Photo credit- Ritu Raj