“MAHARASHTRA MONSOON MADNESS: EARLY ONSET BRINGS RECORD RAINFALL PREDICTIONS”

Why in the news?

  • Southwest monsoon advances over parts of Pune, Mumbai, and Maharashtra, arriving earlier than usual.
  • Heavy rainfall and ‘red’ alerts issued for coastal Karnataka, Konkan, and Madhya Maharashtra, with extremely heavy rain predicted, causing concerns over flooding and waterlogging.
source:indiamaps

About Southwest monsoon:

  • The term ‘monsoon’ originates from the Arabic word ‘Mawsim’, meaning ‘season’.
  • Direction: Named for the south-westerly direction of winds blowing from the western Indian Ocean towards India.
  • Cause: Triggered by an intense low-pressure system over the Tibetan Plateau due to summer heating.
  • Arrival and Duration: Typically begins in June and lasts until September, covering a four-month period.
  • Branches: Monsoon winds split into two branches: Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches.
About India Meteorological Department (IMD):

●     Established in 1875.

●     Operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

●     Headquartered in New Delhi.

●     One of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.

●     Roles and Responsibilities: Providing meteorological observations and forecasts for various sectors.