IMD says there’s a low pressure belt in the East Central and SE parts of Arabian sea
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Even though the South West monsoon reached Kerala coast on June 6 and Goa has already received pre-monsoon showers bringing some relief from the sweltering heat, the onset of monsoons is likely to be delayed due to the low pressure belt in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
IMD Goa observatory had predicted that the monsoon will reach Goa on June 9 after a four day delay.
However, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy showers (exceeding 7 cms) for the State on June 10 and 11.
A warning has been issued for fisherman for the next 24-hours.
Several parts of Goa received moderate to heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds on Monday.
“There was uniform rainfall in Goa during the day. But we are not sure whether monsoon will touch Goa in the next 24 hours. There is a low pressure belt in the East Central and South East parts of Arabian sea and if this continues, then the onset of monsoon will be delayed for the State,” said Dr V K Mini, Director, IMD Goa.
She said that low pressure belt would lead to a depression within 12 hours.
“We are not sure which way this depression will move. If depression goes in a North westerly than monsoon currents will be less,” Mini said adding that
the monsoon has reached Karwar.
IMD is monitoring the movement of the monsoon to predict its arrival in the State.
All eyes are now on the Arabian Sea where a cyclonic circulation is forecast to build and gain in strength over the next few days.
In 2012, the monsoon arrived in Goa on June 6, while in 2013 it arrived on June 5.
India is expected to have below normal monsoon this year with 93 per cent projected rainfall.
The average rainfall in India is defined as between 96 per cent and 104 per cent of a 50-year average of 89 cm for the entire season.
The monsoon is expected to be below normal because of the El-Nino effect,
which is generally associated with warming of the oceans.
