Amid a later-than-normal southwest monsoon retreat, several states across the western snd southern regions of India are still witnessing intense spells of rains. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the southwest monsoon started withdrawing from India on Monday, eight days behind the normal date of September 17.
Delayed Monsoon Retreat
The IMD said, "The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from parts of southwest Rajasthan today, September 25, 2023, against its normal date of withdrawal from southwest Rajasthan of September 17."
According to the weather watchdog, this year is the 13th consecutive delayed Monsoon retreat.
The withdrawal of monsoon from northwest India marks the beginning of its retreat from the Indian subcontinent.
Any delay in the monsoon's retreat means a longer rainy season, which can significantly impact agricultural production, particularly for northwest India where monsoon rainfall plays a crucial role in the Rabi crop production.
Typically, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17, withdrawing entirely by October 15.
Here's a brief account of the state-wise monsoon scenario.
West India
IMD has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra during 25th-29th September and Marathwada, Gujarat Region on 26th September while owing to intense cyclonic circulations, one directly over Gujarat and another near Southeast Uttar Pradesh, last few bouts of rainfall will be visible in these two states.
The influence of these systems will create up to moderate showers over Gujarat region till Friday (September 25-29), Konkan-Goa today, Thursday and Friday (September 25, 28, 29), Marathwada on Wednesday (September 27) and Madhya Maharashtra from Wednesday to Friday. Heavy downpours (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) along with lightning-laced thunderstorms may also lash some parts of these regions during this time.
South India
For the southern region of the country, isolated heavy rainfall are very likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu on 28th & 29th September; Coastal Karnataka and Kerala on 28th & 29th September; North Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema on 29th September and South Interior Karnataka on 28th September.
On Monday, Hyderabad experienced short intense rain spells during late afternoon which led to traffic congestion at many places.
In the city, rain caused heavy traffic jams in Musheerabad, Secunderabad railway station area, Uppal, Tarnaka, Parade Ground, Begumpet, Punjagutta, Ameerpet, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Shaikpet, Tolichowki, Raidurgam, Gachibowli, Rajendranagar, Mehdipatnam, Masab Tank, Khairatabad, Tank Bund, PVNR Road, Old City, Nampally, Koti, Abids, and many other major junctions and flyovers.
In light of the current scenario, IMD has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall for the next five days in the state as heavy rains accompanied with lightning and thunderstorms are very likely to occur in many parts.
In Tamil Nadu, heavy rain lashed parts of the Vellore district. The District Administration has suspended classes for std 1-5 in Vellore and Ranipet district schools due to the rainfall.
As per IMD Chennai, parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to witness rainfall over the next seven-odd days as cyclonic circulation is lying over North Coastal Tamil Nadu and neighbourhood.
For today, IMD Chennai has predicted light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal areas. The state received 45 percent excess rainfall last year, whereas this year till date it has been only 7 percent surplus rainfall.
Andaman & Nicobar Island
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for very heavy rains in the Andaman & Nicobar islands from 27-29 September. Apart from this, the weather department has also predicted in heavy rains in several parts of the country till 29 September.
