Page 15 - Indian Monsoon

Widespread rains cause damage to property in Kerala; heavy downpour likely

The ongoing spell of heavy rains in Kerala has affected normal life, with scores of houses suffering damage, roads being submerged, trees uprooted, flood water entering houses and trains running late as a result of the steady downpour that continued to lash the state on Saturday. Flood water entered houses, schools and shops located in low-lying areas of Kuttanad in coastal Alapuzha district. Potholes appeared on roads, posing a threat to vehicle users in many places there. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department today forecast heavy rainfall at one or two places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam districts. At Kaikulangara in Kollam district, a family of four had a narrow escape as the tiled roof of their house collapsed due to heavy showers. Residents of the house escaped with minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital, police said. Another house in Kannettumukku here was completely damaged following downpour in the small hour

Heavy rainfall lashes Kerala, IMD issues Orange alert for three districts

Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala with parts of the state receiving over 200 mm of rain in the last 24 hours and places in major cities including Kochi and Thrissur remaining waterlogged on Friday. As the southern state reels under the impact of heavy pre-monsoon rains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued an Orange alert for three districts. An Orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert denotes very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. State Revenue Minister K Rajan, who met the media today said parts of the state received over 20 cm of rain in the last 24 hours. Kunnamangalam in Kozhikode district received 226.2 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, he added. He said while Cherthala in Alappuzha district received 215 mm rain, Kumarakom in Kottayam district and Thamara

Heatwave Update: 10 hottest cities in India; temperature to touch 48-degree

The heatwave situation is expected to persist in the country, the temperature is close to 48 degrees Celsius. No relief in sight, according to IMD

Monsoon to hit Kerala coast on June 1, says private forecaster Skymet

The onset of monsoon over Kerala marks the start of its four-month journey across the mainland, which culminates with the rains withdrawing from the far west corner of Rajasthan

Monsoon to arrive on May 31; to boost crop output, ease farmers' woes

The monsoon, the lifeblood of the country's $3.5 trillion economy, delivers nearly 70 per cent of the rain that India needs to water farms

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: Finance ministry

FinMin report says rupee expected to remain within comfortable range

Above-normal rains may flood some areas: IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

I think from the meteorological point of view, it is good news and gives confidence on the monsoon, which is crucial for agriculture and water resources, says Mohapatra

Best of BS Opinion: Monsoon relief, Delhi's government gap & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Monsoon relief

Policy must focus on long-term management issues

India likely to get normal monsoon this year: Private forecaster Skymet

Seasonal rains expected to be 102% of the long-period average of 868.6 mm for four-month period, it say

'Bountiful monsoon' expected in India as El Nino conditions weaken

After delivering a warm 2023, El Nino conditions are set to dissipate by June this year raising hopes of "bountiful monsoon" rains this season, meteorologists have predicted. At least two global climate agencies announced last week that El Nino, the warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that impacts weather across the world, has started to weaken and there is a probability of La Nina conditions setting in by August. Weather scientists in India, tracking the developments closely, have said that La Nina conditions setting in by June-August could mean monsoon rains would be better this year than the last year. However, they also struck a word of caution citing the 'spring predictability barrier', considered a forecasting headache as weather models have a harder time making accurate forecasts. Madhavan Rajeevan, former secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said there is a good probability of La Nina developing by June-July. "Even if El Nino transitions into ENSO-neutral ...

Highlights of the day: Delhi airport sees 13 flight diversions on Feb 1

From the delay in train, flight services to the updates about the interim budget 2024, catch all latest news here

30% districts saw high number of rain-deficit yrs in 4 decades: CEEW study

At the same time, 38 per cent of districts saw a high number of excessive rainfall years in 40 years, shows the CEEW study

Uneven growth

Income inequality can affect development

Depression likely to bring rains in Bengal's coastal areas from Nov 16-18

A cyclonic circulation over the south Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area, which could turn into a depression over central Bay of Bengal on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department said. The system is expected to bring light to moderate rain in the coastal districts of West Bengal from November 16-18, Regional Met Director G K Das said. "We are keeping a close watch on the direction the system may take and its intensity," Das said. The cyclonic circulation existing over south Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a low pressure, and thereafter into a depression, moving west-northwestwards into central Bay of Bengal on Thursday, the IMD said in a bulletin. It advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during the period, as the system may cause squally weather in large parts of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

Global rice prices are not expected to cool down before 2025: World Bank

The Centre has already clamped down on the export of rice from India and imposed hefty import duties on some other variants, thus wiping off almost 40 per cent of supplies from the world rice markets

Southwest Monsoon withdraws from India, four days after normal date

The Southwest Monsoon withdrew completely from India on Thursday, four days after the normal date of October 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It had started withdrawing from the country on September 25, eight days after the normal date. Typically, the Southwest Monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17, withdrawing entirely by October 15. "The Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn today, October 19, from the remaining parts of the country," the IMD said in a statement. With the setting in of easterly/northeasterly winds over southern peninsular India, the Northeast Monsoon rainfall activity is likely to commence over the region in the next three days, it said. However, the initial phase of the Northeast Monsoon in general is likely to be weak, it added. India recorded "below-average" cumulative rainfall -- 820 mm compared to the long-period average (LPA) of 868.

Will the September uptick in rural economy sustain in future?

The uptick in monsoon rains in September after a dry August and improvement in kharif acreage seem to be the immediate plausible reasons for the improvement

Centre set to restrict sugar exports after poor monsoon rains: Report

Monsoon rain this year was the lowest since 2018 due to the El Nino weather pattern

Despite recent heavy rains Kerala still deficient in monsoon rainfall: IMD

Despite heavy rains lashing several parts of Kerala in the last few days, the state is still deficient in monsoon rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Kerala received 34 per cent deficient rainfall during the south-west monsoon this year while the country as a whole got six per cent deficit rains. As the south-west monsoon is now in the withdrawal phase, the rains are expected to reduce from Wednesday, October 4, onwards, IMD sources said. The heavy rains which lashed many parts of Kerala on Tuesday were due to the low pressure system over Jharkhand, they said and added that the withdrawal of the monsoon was complete in three to four states of north-west India. "The conditions are favourable for the withdrawal of the south-west monsoons. The rains will reduce from tomorrow," K Santhosh, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Trivandrum told PTI. He said Lakshadweep received a 15 per cent deficit rainfall but that is considered normal. "Upto 19 pe