Monsoon withdraws from India, four days beyond usual date
New Delhi, October 19: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday announced that the Southwest Monsoon had completely withdrawn from India, which was four days later than the normal withdrawal date of October 15. The monsoon had commenced its withdrawal on September 25, which was eight days after the typical start of the withdrawal.
Usually, the Southwest Monsoon arrives over Kerala around June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It initiates its retreat from northwest India by approximately September 17, concluding the withdrawal by October 15.
The IMD released a statement saying, "The Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn today, October 19, from the remaining parts of the country."
With the arrival of easterly/northeasterly winds over southern peninsular India, the Northeast Monsoon's rainfall activity is expected to commence in the region within the next three days, though it is anticipated to have a weak start, as per the IMD.
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During the four-month monsoon season from June to September, India experienced "below-average" cumulative rainfall, amounting to 820 mm compared to the long-period average (LPA) of 868.6 mm. This occurred amid the influence of strengthening El Nino conditions.
The IMD noted that some of the rainfall deficiency was compensated by positive factors, particularly the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), resulting in "near normal" precipitation.
Prior to 2023, India had enjoyed "normal" and "above-normal" monsoon rainfall for four consecutive years. Rainfall falling between 96 percent and 104 percent of the LPA is classified as normal.
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El Nino conditions, characterised by warming waters in the Pacific Ocean near South America, are typically associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India.
The IOD is defined by the temperature difference in the sea surface between the western regions of the Indian Ocean near Africa and the eastern parts of the ocean near Indonesia.
The MJO, a large-scale atmospheric disturbance originating in tropical Africa and traveling eastward, plays a role in enhancing convection in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- PTC NEWS
