The Hindu Business Line : N-E monsoon beginning to taper off

The north-easterly winds have started largely waning over the Bay of Bengal signalling that the north-east monsoon season may have peaked already, and may now gradually begin to back off from peninsular India.

Easterly waves will now become few and far between, and may even lack usual punch, given that any backup from the "fertile zone" of the global band of low pressure (inter tropical convergence zone, or the ITCZ) is unlikely.

These are telltale signs of the season having become "advanced" and beyond its prime, said Mr K. Santhosh, Director, Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

The ITCZ is largely disorganised, and continues to toe a jagged line closer to the equator. This militates against the formation of weather-creating systems in the Bay of Bengal. This is a condition that has persisted right through the season this year, and explains the disquiet in the Bay unlike in the last. The easterly wind pattern is better organised over the Arabian Sea, but that has only taken away a resident trough of low over southwest Arabian Sea further to the west and away from the mainland.

Existing cyclonic circulations over Lakshadweep and south Tamil Nadu and adjoining Sri Lanka have become less marked. Monday's trough over southwest Bay has overnight shifted to Comorin, bringing associated cloudiness to the region. Another trough lies over south Andaman Sea.

The US National Centres for Environmental Prediction sees a cyclonic circulation creating some weather over eastern Sri Lanka and adjoining southern tip of peninsular India from December 15 onwards.

This may even setoff some resonating effect over the larger Bay, prompting the easterlies to organise better around of a feeble trough of low.

An India Meteorological Department forecast said rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Isolated rain or thundershowers are likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

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

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

Stories in this Section
Expectations run high as PM embarks on Japan tour

N-E monsoon beginning to taper off

`Civil servants' demands delaying pension reforms'

Bharti Teletech in pact with Polycom to market solutions

SpiceJet to raise $80 m thru 20 pc preferential issue

Industrial output growth dips to 6.2 pc in October

Tea exports to Pak seen doubling to 20 mkg

No plan now to shift project from Singur: Tatas

India's share in diamond processing industry to drop

Satyam to set up centre in Egypt

Panel on iron ore export fails to reach consensus

Sensex sheds 404 points; goes below 13,000

Markets and IIP: Tenuous link?

Patel Engg: Realty to unlock value

Indo Tech: Betting on growth