The Hindu Business Line : Bay cyclone revs up northeast monsoon

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov. 16 The Bay of Bengal saw a tropical cyclone, named Khai-Muk, spring up on Friday midnight but weaken into a deep depression prior to crossing the south Andhra Pradesh coast on Saturday.

Rampaging westerlies from the opposite end lead to the disintegration of the convective bands around Khai-Muk; the landfall meant snapping of the moisture feed from the ocean, weakening it further.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its update on Sunday the system lay as a depression over Rayalaseema in the morning.

It is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction and weaken into a low pressure area during the next 12 hours.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) said a remnant of Khai-Muk would push inland across south-central India over the next few days and may re-emerge over the Arabian Sea. It will be closely monitored for signs of regeneration.

ANOTHER CYCLONE ?

The JTWC sees possibility of another strong weather system, even a likely cyclone, being thrown up in the Bay as a tropical storm (deep depression) saunters in from the neighbouring South China Sea.

The causative system, Tropical Storm Twenty-six (a numbered storm), is forecast to cross into extreme southeast Bay around Wednesday and enter adjoining southwest Bay two days hence.

The plotted direction for movement according to initial conditions obtaining on Sunday would take it straight to the Tamil Nadu coast around the weekend.

London-based storm tracker Tropical Storm Risk Group too saw such a scenario playing out. Specific landfall location could vary depending on emerging atmospheric and ground conditions during the intervening time.

Some model forecasts doubt the formation of a tropical cyclone close on the heels of Khai-Muk that pulverised the seawaters in the vicinity. They aver that Tropical Storm Twenty-Six may not be able to rustle up the required strength over rain-cooled waters.

REVIVES MONSOON

In any case, Khai-Muk has helped revive the northeast monsoon across Andhra Pradesh, and maybe over Karnataka too, given the direction the remnant ‘low’ is expected to travel inland.

The Chennai Met Centre said in its update the 24 hours ending Sunday morning saw vigorous monsoon conditions over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Rainfall occurred at most places over these Met subdivisions in Andhra Pradesh while it was isolated over Tamil Nadu, Telangana and south interior Karnataka.

Forecast for the next two days indicated a westward propagating rain cover in line with the movement of the Khai-Muk remnant.

Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over north interior Karnataka and Telangana, at many places over south interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema and at a few places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and coastal Karnataka.Isolated rain or thundershowers are also likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

HEAVY RAIN WARNING

A separate warning issued said isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur over north interior Karnataka and Telangana during the next 24 hours. Isolated heavy rain is likely over south interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema during the same period.

Isolated rain or thundershowers have also been forecast over Orissa to the northeast, and Marathawada, Konkan, Goa and south Madhya Maharashtra to the west-northwest. South Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha too may see spells of isolated showers.

More Stories on : Climate & Weather | Climate & Weather

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

Stories in this Section
Bay cyclone revs up northeast monsoon

Mastek closing down BPO practice

‘Airfares staying up on strong dollar’

Goods carriers feel the heat of meltdown

Lupin (Rs 581.25): Sell

Day Trading Guide

CAT goes non-Science student-friendly

IT majors get more fixed price contracts

IT sector growth rate to slow down: Nilekani

Positive divergences in gold

Metals may probe further lows

Hatsun, Schreiber Dynamix plan milk holidays on low exports

Stimulating developments

Indices may fluctuate within a broader range

Lenders likely to loosen grip, offer more credit