Cool and wet days of the monsoon have become a distant memory. In fact, few interior districts have already started experiencing the wintry chilly with minimum temperature plunging several notches below normal.
The Northeast Monsoon is considered as the lifeline of Tamil Nadu. During this time, the state manages to record 48 percent rainfall than its annual rains. November is the wettest month of the year. However this year, the State is still hoping to see that typical Northeast Monsoon showers.
All districts of the state are dealing with deficit rainfall with only a variation in percentage. Also, Tamil Nadu is often prone to droughts.
November is likely to end up as one of the driest months in the past few decades. Normally, three or four weather systems form over the Bay of Bengal in November. However, so far, no strong system has developed to bring heavy spells.
The State continues to pin its hope on December, considering the monsoon to revive soon.
According to weathermen, this time easterly winds were not strong to cause clouding and rainfall. Two depressions that formed in the Southwest Bay of Bengal travelled initially towards Tamil Nadu Coast and recurved towards Bangladesh, thus limiting the probability of rainfall.
Unlike the Southwest Monsoon, when convective activity brings evening showers, this season needs moist easterlies to come from the Bay of Bengal to produce rains.
At present, there are dry and cold northerly winds prevailing over the region.
As per Skymet Weather’s chief meteorologist Mahesh Palawat, the sea surface temperature should be at least 29 degree Celsius or more to develop weather systems. This year, there is a poor chance for Tamil Nadu to end with good rainfall. It may record only less than 50 per cent of its average rainfall.
Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org
