The retreating southwest monsoon continues to spark fairly widespread rainfall over many parts of peninsular India, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said.
HEAVY RAINS
Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Konkan, Goa and Andaman and Nicobar Islands received fairly widespread rainfall during the last 24 hours ending Wednesday morning.
It was scattered over Madhya Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep and isolated over Telengana, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Gangetic West Bengal.
Very heavy to heavy rains were reported (in cm) from Pune-11; Kochi and Sholapur seven each; Kavali and Mangalore- six each; and Chennai, Haveri, Coonoor, Vengurla and Tiruttani-4 each.
There are two causative cyclonic circulations over the sea (south-east Bay of Bengal) as well as over land (south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu).
CONVECTIVE CLOUDS
The east-west shear zone in the upper levels are where the opposing wind regimes run into each other and set up turbulence. This is what has lead to a sweep-up of moisture over the entire southern peninsula.
Satellite imagery showed the presence of convective (rain-bearing) clouds over parts of Andhra Pradesh, interior Karnataka, south Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, south Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea and east-central and south-east Arabian Sea.
An IMD forecast valid until Saturday said that fairly widespread rain or thundershowers would continue to lash peninsular India, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Isolated rain or thundershowers has been forecast over Gangetic West Bengal, Orissa and south Chhattisgarh. Isolated precipitation will occur over Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow onwards under westerly action.
ARABIAN SEA WATCH
Global models continued to indicate the possibility of the easterly winds in the lower levels forcing a circulation to enter east-central Arabian Sea over the next few days.
It will be closely watched for signs of intensification, if any, the models suggested.