IMD Says: Heavy rain warning for Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat today

Isolated extremely heavy rain has been forecast over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Gujarat Region (North Gujarat, Gandhinagar and South Gujarat) on Thursday as a low-pressure area from West-Central Bay of Bengal appeared crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast, with a remnant circulation located over South Chhattisgarh on Wednesday afternoon.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a supportive ran down from north Konkan to south Bangladesh across this circulation. The late-season ‘low’, also expectedly the last, brought with it a regime of heavy to very heavy rainfall as moisture-laden easterly winds continue to envelop Peninsular India on Wednesday morning.

Isolated heavy rain

Isolated heavy rain has also been forecast over Kerala & Mahe on Sunday and Monday. It will be Isolated heavy to very heavy over Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan & Goa on Thursday; over Saurashtra & Kutch on Thursday and Friday; and over Gujarat Region until Friday. It will be isolated heavy over Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan & Goa until Friday; Marathwada on Thursday; and Saurashtra & Kutch and Gujarat Region until Saturday. 

All-India rain status

All-India rainfall for an extended monsoon season (normally closes by September 17) is above-normal by five per cent as on Wednesday (September 25). Central India has gained the most with 16 per cent surplus even as the region has started receiving a fresh round of rain. South Peninsula followed close on its heels with +15 per cent. North-West India is at a distant third with +5 per cent while North-East India lagged the most by far, as it usually does, with a rain deficit of -17 per cent. IMD indicates the North-East may witness a ‘relief rally’ associated with a shift in the track of the rain-driving remnant circulation.’

More for Central India

Over Central India, the IMD has predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rain for Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on Wednesday; over Madhya Pradesh until Friday; and Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh until Thursday. Towards north-west, isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely over East Uttar Pradesh on Friday while it will be isolated heavy over Himachal Pradesh on Thursday and over Uttarakhand on Thursday and Friday; West Uttar Pradesh on Friday; and East Uttar Pradesh from Friday to Sunday. 

Shifting track of circulation

It indicates the circulation would be forced to move east-north-east by westerly winds associated with monsoon withdrawal. IMD’s numerical model predictions, too, suggest the same. In fact, the circulation would be pushed as far east towards and along the Himalayan foothills as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal before exiting land to dip into the Bay, where it began its journey. IMD models indicate that it may reorganise itself and cross the Odisha coast to enter east-central India by October 2. 

Gains for North-East

Fairly widespread to widespread rain is forecast for north-east India and the hills of West Bengal and Sikkim during next seven days. It will be isolated heavy to very heavy over Assam & Meghalaya on Wednesday and Thursday; and over Arunachal Pradesh and hills of West Bengal & Sikkim on Thursday. Isolated heavy rain is predicted for Arunachal Pradesh on all seven days; over Assam & Meghalaya until Sunday; over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura until Saturday; hills of West Bengal & Sikkim until Thursday; plains of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha on Wednesday and Thursday; and over Bihar until Friday.