Early Monsoon Rumbles Towards Maharashtra: A Rare May Arrival?
Early Monsoon Rumbles Towards Maharashtra: A Rare May Arrival?
The southwest monsoon, responsible for over 75% of India’s annual rainfall, is barreling towards Maharashtra, potentially making its earliest arrival in years.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy rains along the west coast, predicting the monsoon’s arrival in the state within the next 2-3 days. This is a significant development, as the monsoon typically reaches Maharashtra around June 9th, spreading to Pune and Mumbai by June 11th.
A Departure from the Norm
The monsoon usually hits Kerala on June 1st and covers the entire country by July 8th. However, this year, it arrived eight days early in Kerala on May 24th and has been advancing at an unprecedented pace. It also reached Mizoram 12 days before its normal arrival date.
According to experts, this early arrival in Maharashtra could be one of the rarest occurrences. K S Hosalikar, a former senior meteorologist at IMD, stated, “It does not happen very often. Given the kind of rain we are experiencing in Konkan and Goa, it is quite possible that the monsoon may reach the state within the next 1-2 days.”
Heavy Rains and Potential Disruptions
The unusual intensity of the monsoon has already led to heavy rains and landslides in some areas of Maharashtra. Hosalikar highlighted the pre-monsoon rains in May, saying, “Most districts of Maharashtra witnessed good rains this May before the monsoon – from thunderstorms, as well as other systems that developed. It was not as dry as it occurs during the peak of summer in May. But the heavy rains have also triggered landslides, flooding in vulnerable areas, especially cities. There was also an intense system – a depression, so the disaster management officials were alerted about its subsequent impact.”
More Than Just Maharashtra
The monsoon’s rapid advance isn’t confined to Maharashtra. The IMD has issued warnings of widespread rain in other southern states like Goa and Andhra Pradesh, which usually see the monsoon arrive around June 8th. The monsoon is also expected to reach parts of Karnataka and the eastern states of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
A Prediction of Above-Normal Rainfall
These developments come after the IMD’s first long-range forecast predicted above-normal rainfall for the country from June to September, with a projected figure of at least 105% of the long-period average.
