The southwest monsoon is likely to cover the entire country by July 15. Overall rainfall across the country remained 7 percent below normal with only south peninsular and central regions having recorded above normal rainfall since June 1. Rainfall in the two regions is likely to subside next week onwards, the weather office said.
Eastern and north-eastern states have received below-average rainfall in the past week, but the monsoon is likely to advance to these regions in the next few days. Heavy rainfall is expected in West Bengal, Sikkim and Odisha in the next three days. Countrywide rainfall improved on Thursday, with rainfall measured at 9 percent above average, and the south peninsular region recording 90 percent excess rainfall.
The overall rainfall activity over the country is also expected to increase across the country, particularly in eastern and western regions, as the monsoon takes its normal course of progression. “In association with the likely strengthening of south west monsoon and likely formation of a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, enhanced rainfall activity with heavy to very heavy and isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely along the west coast during June 8-11,” the India Meteorological Department said.
The southwest monsoon will intensify and lash Mumbai and many parts of the west coast with extremely heavy rainfall in the next few days, while northern states can expect thundershowers, the weather office said. After hitting the Kerala coast before the normal date, the monsoon has advanced up to Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, and is poised to reach Odisha, Gujarat and West Bengal by the weekend after drenching the western coast.
Coastal cities are already getting heavy rainfall. Mumbai was among the wettest cities of the country as heavy rain flooded roads and railway lines and disrupted the flight schedule at the airport.
Chander Mohan
Krishi Jagran/New Delhi
