http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/15/stories/2010061562500500.htm
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 15:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Water level in the backwater stretches of the rice bowl of Kuttanad was inching towards danger mark on Monday as the rivers Pampa, Achenkoil, Manimala and Meenachal began emptying their flood flow into the region.
Villages in this low-lying region are already waterlogged and the Alappuzha district authorities have declared two days’ holiday for schools in the area. Rough sea conditions along the Kochi coast prevent the flood waters from draining smoothly out of the Vembanad Lake, which stretch from Kochi up north to Kuttanad towards the south.
At the southern end of Kuttanad, the Irrigation Department has opened the Thottappally spillway and cut open the narrow stretch of sand bar separating the sea and the backwaters to facilitate the drainage of floodwaters from the region. The sea was rough along the Thottappally stretch also. There are no reports about the collapse of any of the bunds that protect the sprawling paddy fields of the region. Farmers who have launched Kuttanad’s second crop are on a day-night vigil on the bunds.
Reports from upstream areas in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, from where the rivers emptying into Kuttanad originate, spoke of a decrease in the intensity of rainfall on Monday. The shutters of a couple of smaller reservoirs in Idukki district that were opened on Sunday following heavy rains were once again closed on Monday.
In the northern districts, where several centres came under very heavy rainfall on Sunday, there was a relative respite in the downpour on Monday, allowing the flood waters time to drain out of low-lying areas.
During the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Monday, very heavy rainfall was recorded in Thaliparamba and Vadakara (15 cm each), Vythiri (12 cm), Thrithala (10 cm) and Kannur, Perinthalmanna, Pattambi and Peerumede (10 cm each).
India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its outlook for the next two days, has warned about the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places in the State.
Four persons lost their lives in rain-related mishaps in the State during the 24 hours ending at 12.30 on Moinday, according to the calamity monitoring cell of the State government. Two of these deaths were in Pathanamthitta district and one death each was in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts.
The government released Rs.19.10 crore to the rain-affected districts for relief operations, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said on Monday. The district collectors have been directed to release an assistance of Rs.1 lakh to the relatives of each of those who had died in monsoon-related incidents.
*****
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Monsoon strengthens over Kerala
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/14/stories/2010061457830400.htm
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 14:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The weather models of the India Meteorology Department (IMD), based on Sunday's atmospheric conditions, forecast continued heavy rainfall for Kerala during the next three days.
Heavy rainfall is likely in isolated places, especially in north Kerala. The winds from the Arabian Sea have been blowing at velocities touching 45 to 55 km across the breadth of the State during the last couple of days and substantial rainfall could therefore occur in the high ranges of the State also.
There have already been a couple of cases of landslides during the current surge of the monsoon. Landslide-prone areas in Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts may require attention during the remaining phase of the ongoing surge.
The IMD's models on Sunday dropped the expectation of the formation of a depression in the Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast by Saturday/Sunday. But the low pressure system in position over west central Bay of Bengal for the last three days was still persisting on Sunday, siphoning the southwest monsoon flow across the peninsula. An offshore trough is also in position along the west coast causing the rain clouds to churn and precipitate.
The IMD's models indicate the possibility of the monsoon flow intensifying during the next 2-3 days. Very heavy rainfall was recorded during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday in Kozhikode and Perinthalmanna (18 cm each), Kozhikode airport and Mannarkkad (17 cm each), Manjeri (11 cm) and Koyilandy, Thrissur, Vellanikkara and Peerumedu (10 cm each). Rainfall was evenly spread out across the length and breadth of the State, although the heavier of the downpours were mostly in north Kerala.
The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre in its bulletin for the day said the winds could touch speeds ranging between 50 km and 60 km an hour along and off the coast of Kerala during the next two days. Fishermen have been warned.
A fisherman, Sunil Babu, drowned in the seas off the Kozhikode coast on Sunday when high waves shattered his boat.
Landslips in the hills near Thodupuzha in Idukki district destroyed crops on nearly 50 hectares, besides damaging a few houses. High waves are eroding stretches of the coast in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thrissur districts.
The rivers Pampa, Achencoil, Manimala and Meenachal flowing into the paddy belt of Kuttanad are beginning to rise threateningly.
*****
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 14:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The weather models of the India Meteorology Department (IMD), based on Sunday's atmospheric conditions, forecast continued heavy rainfall for Kerala during the next three days.
Heavy rainfall is likely in isolated places, especially in north Kerala. The winds from the Arabian Sea have been blowing at velocities touching 45 to 55 km across the breadth of the State during the last couple of days and substantial rainfall could therefore occur in the high ranges of the State also.
There have already been a couple of cases of landslides during the current surge of the monsoon. Landslide-prone areas in Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts may require attention during the remaining phase of the ongoing surge.
The IMD's models on Sunday dropped the expectation of the formation of a depression in the Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast by Saturday/Sunday. But the low pressure system in position over west central Bay of Bengal for the last three days was still persisting on Sunday, siphoning the southwest monsoon flow across the peninsula. An offshore trough is also in position along the west coast causing the rain clouds to churn and precipitate.
The IMD's models indicate the possibility of the monsoon flow intensifying during the next 2-3 days. Very heavy rainfall was recorded during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday in Kozhikode and Perinthalmanna (18 cm each), Kozhikode airport and Mannarkkad (17 cm each), Manjeri (11 cm) and Koyilandy, Thrissur, Vellanikkara and Peerumedu (10 cm each). Rainfall was evenly spread out across the length and breadth of the State, although the heavier of the downpours were mostly in north Kerala.
The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre in its bulletin for the day said the winds could touch speeds ranging between 50 km and 60 km an hour along and off the coast of Kerala during the next two days. Fishermen have been warned.
A fisherman, Sunil Babu, drowned in the seas off the Kozhikode coast on Sunday when high waves shattered his boat.
Landslips in the hills near Thodupuzha in Idukki district destroyed crops on nearly 50 hectares, besides damaging a few houses. High waves are eroding stretches of the coast in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thrissur districts.
The rivers Pampa, Achencoil, Manimala and Meenachal flowing into the paddy belt of Kuttanad are beginning to rise threateningly.
*****
Friday, June 11, 2010
Heavy rainfall likely for three days
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/12/stories/2010061257440400.htm
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 12:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The southwest monsoon entered a dynamic phase over Kerala on Friday with the flow of winds from the Arabian Sea strengthening in speed and taking a direction from the west to drive the rain clouds far inland.
The State received widespread rainfall for the third day in succession, heavy in many places. The heaviest recorded during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Friday was 7 cm at Koyilandy. Places such as Kudalur, Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi airport, Piravam, Mancompu and Kumarakam received 5 cm of rainfall each. The catchments of the reservoirs in the high range areas of Idukki district received rainfall of varying intensity.
The numerical weather prediction models of India Meteorological Department (IMD) suggest the rains further intensifying to reach the peak of the ongoing surge by Monday.
The winds even inshore could touch a speed of 45-55 km an hour on occasions during the three days till Monday.
A low pressure system was in position over west central Bay of Bengal on Friday drawing the monsoon flow from the Arabian Sea across the peninsula.
The IMD's models show the likelihood of this ‘low' rolling swiftly across the peninsula to merge with an offshore trough on the west coast by Saturday to become a stronger system.
The models predict the system growing in strength to a depression and moving towards north parallel to the west coast to make its landfall across the Gujarat coast by June 17. Kerala will be within the active range of the system till Monday/Tuesday as it moves north spreading rainfall along the entire west coast.
*****
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 12:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The southwest monsoon entered a dynamic phase over Kerala on Friday with the flow of winds from the Arabian Sea strengthening in speed and taking a direction from the west to drive the rain clouds far inland.
The State received widespread rainfall for the third day in succession, heavy in many places. The heaviest recorded during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Friday was 7 cm at Koyilandy. Places such as Kudalur, Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi airport, Piravam, Mancompu and Kumarakam received 5 cm of rainfall each. The catchments of the reservoirs in the high range areas of Idukki district received rainfall of varying intensity.
The numerical weather prediction models of India Meteorological Department (IMD) suggest the rains further intensifying to reach the peak of the ongoing surge by Monday.
The winds even inshore could touch a speed of 45-55 km an hour on occasions during the three days till Monday.
A low pressure system was in position over west central Bay of Bengal on Friday drawing the monsoon flow from the Arabian Sea across the peninsula.
The IMD's models show the likelihood of this ‘low' rolling swiftly across the peninsula to merge with an offshore trough on the west coast by Saturday to become a stronger system.
The models predict the system growing in strength to a depression and moving towards north parallel to the west coast to make its landfall across the Gujarat coast by June 17. Kerala will be within the active range of the system till Monday/Tuesday as it moves north spreading rainfall along the entire west coast.
*****
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Prospects bright for a rainy week
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/09/stories/2010060952280400.htm
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 10:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cross equatorial southwest monsoon flow into the Indian subcontinent is strengthening, promising a good spell of rain that could last for at least a week for Kerala, judging from the weather prediction models of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), based on Tuesday's atmospheric conditions.
The models indicate the possibility of a low pressure system developing over the Arabian Sea centred at a point some 400 km off the Karnataka coast by June 13.
The system shows the potential to strengthen into a depression and even a deep depression.
It may move parallel to the west coast northwards pulling the monsoon currents into Konkan and Goa and even Mumbai in Maharashtra by the beginning of next week, exposing the regions to the south, including Kerala, to unhindered flow of the monsoon currents.
The winds are also seen to pick up in speed during the course of the week, propelled by the evolving system in the Arabian Sea. This means substantial rain in the midlands and high ranges of the State.
Rainfall occurred at most places in the State during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Kottayam and Aryankavu received 5 cm of rainfall each and Piravam and Vaikom 4 cm each. Rainfall was more or less evenly distributed over the entire length and breadth of the State, except in Palakkad district, where some places received only drizzles.
The IMD sees the possibility of heavy rainfall in isolated places in the State during the next three days.
*****
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 10:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cross equatorial southwest monsoon flow into the Indian subcontinent is strengthening, promising a good spell of rain that could last for at least a week for Kerala, judging from the weather prediction models of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), based on Tuesday's atmospheric conditions.
The models indicate the possibility of a low pressure system developing over the Arabian Sea centred at a point some 400 km off the Karnataka coast by June 13.
The system shows the potential to strengthen into a depression and even a deep depression.
It may move parallel to the west coast northwards pulling the monsoon currents into Konkan and Goa and even Mumbai in Maharashtra by the beginning of next week, exposing the regions to the south, including Kerala, to unhindered flow of the monsoon currents.
The winds are also seen to pick up in speed during the course of the week, propelled by the evolving system in the Arabian Sea. This means substantial rain in the midlands and high ranges of the State.
Rainfall occurred at most places in the State during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Kottayam and Aryankavu received 5 cm of rainfall each and Piravam and Vaikom 4 cm each. Rainfall was more or less evenly distributed over the entire length and breadth of the State, except in Palakkad district, where some places received only drizzles.
The IMD sees the possibility of heavy rainfall in isolated places in the State during the next three days.
*****
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Monsoon revival likely in 5-6 days
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/04/stories/2010060453420400.htm
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 4:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The monsoon flow over Kerala has gone haywire under the distracting influence of the “very severe cyclonic storm Phet,” now hovering over the Oman coast, but the flow is set to fall into its pattern in another five or six days, according to the numerical weather prediction models of India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Almost from the very day the IMD announced the onset of the monsoon over Kerala on May 31, the weather system that quickly developed into a cyclonic storm, from its tentative beginning as an upper level circulation over the southeast Arabian Sea, had started siphoning off to its centre all the moisture feed from the sea robbing the State of the kind of rainfall usual at monsoon onset.
From the southeast Arabian Sea, the system kept moving northwest and, on Thursday, was set to cross the Oman coast in a day's time. It is then traced to move in a northeast direction to cross the Pakistan coast and the adjoining coast of Gujarat by Sunday, the IMD's cyclone tracking and forecast bulletin said.
On entering the land, the system is forecast to quickly spend itself out spreading rainfall in Gujarat, Rajasthan and even parts of Uttar Pradesh, according to the IMD's weather prediction models.
By the beginning of next week (Monday/ Tuesday), the ripples set off by ‘Phet' in the atmosphere over the Arabian Sea are seen to begin the process of settling down, leaving Kerala and the southern peninsula open to the free play of the monsoon currents blowing in from southwest.
*****
My monsoon story in The Hindu on June 4:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The monsoon flow over Kerala has gone haywire under the distracting influence of the “very severe cyclonic storm Phet,” now hovering over the Oman coast, but the flow is set to fall into its pattern in another five or six days, according to the numerical weather prediction models of India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Almost from the very day the IMD announced the onset of the monsoon over Kerala on May 31, the weather system that quickly developed into a cyclonic storm, from its tentative beginning as an upper level circulation over the southeast Arabian Sea, had started siphoning off to its centre all the moisture feed from the sea robbing the State of the kind of rainfall usual at monsoon onset.
From the southeast Arabian Sea, the system kept moving northwest and, on Thursday, was set to cross the Oman coast in a day's time. It is then traced to move in a northeast direction to cross the Pakistan coast and the adjoining coast of Gujarat by Sunday, the IMD's cyclone tracking and forecast bulletin said.
On entering the land, the system is forecast to quickly spend itself out spreading rainfall in Gujarat, Rajasthan and even parts of Uttar Pradesh, according to the IMD's weather prediction models.
By the beginning of next week (Monday/ Tuesday), the ripples set off by ‘Phet' in the atmosphere over the Arabian Sea are seen to begin the process of settling down, leaving Kerala and the southern peninsula open to the free play of the monsoon currents blowing in from southwest.
*****
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