MONSOON - GEOGRAPHY
News: Widespread rainfall across
India
What’s in the News?
 - First
     active monsoon of the season over a large geographical area.
 
 - 80%
     of India reported widespread rainfall.
 
 - Heavy
     to very heavy spells in Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
     Gujarat, coastal Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep.
 
Factors Causing Widespread Rains:
 - Southwest
     monsoon gained momentum towards the end of June.
 
 - Covered
     the entire country by July 2, six days ahead of schedule.
 
 - Multiple
     favorable weather systems active or vigorous over southern, east,
     northeast, and central India.
 
 - Continuous
     moisture-laden westerly winds from the Arabian Sea.
 
 - Monsoon
     trough position affecting central, eastern, and peninsular India.
 
 - Off-shore
     trough between south Gujarat and north Kerala.
 
 - Wind
     shear zone along latitudes 20° N between central and peninsular India.
 
 - Low-pressure
     system over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
 
Rainfall Status:
 - All-India
     rainfall increased from 242mm on July 9 to 305.8mm on July 17.
 
 - 97%
     of normal rainfall for the season.
 
 - 17
     states received normal or above-normal rainfall.
 
 - Deficient
     rainfall in Odisha, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
     Kerala, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
 
 - Heavy
     rainfall recorded in Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka,
     Kerala, Uttarakhand, west Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal since
     July 13.
 
 
The southwest monsoon season - Rainfall received from the southwest monsoons is seasonal in
character, which occurs between June and September.
The retreating monsoon season - The months of October and November are known for retreating
monsoons.
 
Forecast:
 - Southwest
     monsoon to remain active over south peninsular, eastern India, and
     Himalayan states.
 
 - New
     low-pressure system developing over the northwest Bay of Bengal around
     Friday.
 
 - Red
     alert for Kutch, Saurashtra, Konkan, Goa, coastal and south interior
     Karnataka for heavy rainfall on Thursday.
 
 - Orange
     alert for Gujarat, west Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa,
     coastal and interior Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and
     Odisha on July 19.
 
 - Yellow
     alert for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, east
     Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
 
 - Enhanced
     rainfall in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, west Uttar Pradesh, and
     Uttarakhand starting Thursday.
 
 - Improved
     rainfall in Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana starting
     Thursday.
 
 - Active
     monsoon to bring substantial rainfall over most regions for the next ten
     days, except Jammu and Kashmir.
 
 - Expected
     subdued rainfall activity in early August.
 
 
Sources: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/widespread-rainfall-india-9458926/