Good News! Tamil Nadu Braces for Normal Northeast Monsoon
Good News! Tamil Nadu Braces for Normal Northeast Monsoon
Relief is on the horizon for Tamil Nadu as the IMD predicts a normal Northeast monsoon this year, crucial after a deficit Southwest monsoon. Get ready for crucial rainfall!
Good news for Tamil Nadu residents! The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that the much-anticipated Northeast monsoon is likely to be normal this year. This forecast brings a wave of relief, especially since the state experienced a significant deficit during the recently concluded Southwest monsoon season.
The Northeast monsoon is vital for Tamil Nadu, contributing a substantial portion of its annual rainfall.
The state typically receives an average of 44 cm during this period.
While many parts of south and coastal Tamil Nadu are expected to see normal to above-normal rainfall, the northern interior districts might receive below-normal precipitation.
The IMD Director-General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, indicated during a virtual briefing that conditions are favorable for the monsoon's onset from the third week of October.
This year, the monsoon's importance is amplified as the state recorded a 20% rainfall deficit during the Southwest monsoon. Several districts, including Nagapattinam, Karur, Thanjavur, Thoothukudi, and Chengalpattu, faced deficits exceeding 35%.
The prevailing strong El Niño conditions, which are expected to strengthen until year-end, typically guide weather systems towards Tamil Nadu, south Andhra Pradesh, and Sri Lanka during the Northeast monsoon, potentially influencing rainfall activity.
Despite the positive monsoon outlook, parts of north Tamil Nadu might still experience above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures in October. Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted a wet spell over the Western Ghats and interior regions until the weekend. However, temperatures are generally expected to remain near normal from October 1st.
A north-south trough extending to the Gulf of Mannar is also expected to contribute to wet weather across the state.
Heavy rainfall is specifically forecast for Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and Erode districts on Thursday.
Experts note that the state is currently in a transition phase from the Southwest to the Northeast monsoon. While dry westerlies have caused some simmering heat in interior parts, a reversal in wind patterns and increased cloud cover are expected to bring down temperatures. For Chennai, the RMC anticipates above-normal temperatures of 36-37 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with a possibility of light rainfall in some areas.
