“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. |