The Hindu Business Line : Pacific storm to help kick-start northeast monsoon

Tropical Storm Durian, a freshly brewing western Pacific system, is expected to help breathe new life into the northeast monsoon over southern India peninsula by the first week of December.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts indicates that a remnant of Durian, which is forecast to become a Category 4 Typhoon, will impact the Bay of Bengal waters by December 5.

A number of models surveyed, including the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre and the London-based Tropical Storm Risk Group, are unanimous in their projections that Durian would churn to become a Category 1 Typhoon by November 27.

The system is seen feeding voraciously on the warm Pacific waters and pump itself up to a dangerous Category 4 system (the second most powerful on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale for hurricane/typhoon strength) and barrel into the Philippines coast by December 1.

LESS POWERFUL

The land features of the archipelago would expectedly mellow down the storm, but not for long since Durian is seen sliding into the waiting arms of the South China Sea.

A second round of intensification is indicated here, but to a level not as powerful as when Durian was traversing the western Pacific.

A weakened Durian, retaining the typhoon status still, would barge into Indochina (the Vietnam coast) on December 3, and weaken steadily on impacting the land.

POTENT FEED

But the system would pack enough moisture to send down a potent feed into the Bay (the Andaman Sea), before dumping some of its contents over Myanmar en route.

This is also expected to coincide with the southward movement of the seasonal anti-cyclone, whose core of southeasterlies to the bottom right flank would help strengthen the easterly flows over the Bay.

CHILL IN NORTH

This will in turn help the westerlies and northwesterlies to blow straight into the plains of north India and help bring down the night temperatures. In this manner, the gathering chill in the north will now synchronise with the revival of the northeast monsoon in the southern peninsula.

Night temperatures have already become below normal by two to three degrees C over parts of north India and adjoining central India, an update by India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

This indicates that the southerly shift of the anti-cyclone may already have started. The IMD has predicted that the mercury will fall further by two to three degrees C over the next two days.

More Stories on : Climate & Weather | Climate & Weather | Outlook

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Pacific storm to help kick-start northeast monsoon

Passenger comfort, the new mantra for airlines

Greenfield mania hits cement industry

PM stresses on job creation

More rigorous check on staff background

Have you invested in the right sector funds yet?

`Oil prices still driven by speculation'

Centre plans 5 coastal nuclear power stations

`Tax rates not to be raised'

Software sector posts robust performance

Strong upside seen in gold on positive sentiment

Market may move up further despite some scepticism

Bonds firm up on buying interest, forex flows