Rains’ exit delayed for 7th year on trot

For the seventh consecutive year, the withdrawal of southwest monsoon has been delayed. Officials from the Indian meteorological department (IMD) have said the monsoon is likely to recede from the western parts of the country around September 24.

“Over the last few days, conditions have been becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the south­west monsoon. This is likely to start around September 24,” says an IMD official. “Though this will be the seventh consecutive year this has been delayed, it cannot be called a new trend.”

The southwest monsoon usually starts receding after September 1 following the abeyance of rainfall for five successive days, the establishment of an anti-cyclonic depression in the lower troposphere and considerable reduction in moisture content.

The rainfall deficiency of the country is 5% below normal. “The rainfall activity might not affect Mumbai or Maharashtra immediately. It depends on the weather conditions,” said NY Apte, deputy director general of the IMD.

But, Mumbai’s rain deficit is larger than that of the country. As on September 19, the rainfall deficiency of the city and its suburbs was 12% and 30% below normal, respectively. They have to date received 1,422mm and 1,847mm of rainfall, respectively. This is 533mm and 286mm, respectively, below normal.

Meanwhile, IMD has forecasted that some parts of the city and the suburbs are likely to get a few spells of showers. A few places in south-central Maharashtra and Marathwada will receive moderate rainfall.