SW monsoons, views from Skymet and IMD

Mangalore Today News Network

May 31, 2016: The monsoon indications are loud and clear as of now!  Widespread pre-monsoon rainfall over Kerala, coastal Karnataka and other regions in the last couple of days is welcomed  as a good omen for the South-western monsoon.

The private weather forecaster Skymet, says fairly widespread rains and thundershowers continue to lash Kerala and coastal Karnataka. “It indicates monsoon is not far behind. In fact, these states have already started receiving monsoon-like rains,” Skymet said in a statement a few hours ago.

The forecaster also noted that there is need to watch out for more than 2.5 mm of rainfall for two consecutive days in at least 60% of the stipulated 14 weather stations across Kerala, coastal Karnataka and Lakshadweep, which will herald monsoon season.

Meanwhile, IMD, India Meteorological Department,  in its prediction said heavy rain and thunderstorms were likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, north-eastern states and coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next couple of days. It also predicted thunderstorm accompanied with squall over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, east Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in next few days.

Monsoon is being eagerly awaited as water levels in the major reservoirs in the country have depleted to alarmingly low levels.  Till last week, water reserves had fallen to 17% of their installed capacity of the reservoirs, while 31% of that capacity was filled up with water at the same time last year.