There may be no relief for coastal Karnataka, which is just recovering from the recent very heavy rain and flooding, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast very heavy rainfall in the area till June 10, at least.
The next week is expected to see heavy rain across the State as weather systems line up that could intensify the monsoon. IMD officials said that by Thursday, the whole of the State would be officially covered by the monsoon.
According to the forecast sent to the State government by the IMD, while coastal Karnataka will see widespread rainfall (that is, more than 75% of the area will receive rain), the intensity will be heavy (more than 65mm) to very heavy (up to 244.4mm) rainfall in isolated places. It was on May 30 that more than 300mm of rain had triggered flash floods.
Apart from this, heavy rain is expected in a few places in south and north interior Karnataka as the monsoon spreads across the State.
“There is an off-shore trough forming along the coast, while an area of low pressure is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal. In the midst, an east-west shear zone (which can bring in winds and moisture) is forming in Raichur-Ballari area. These will see thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain in the coming days,” said Sundar Metri from the IMD.
These systems are expected to kick in on June 9, when more than three-fourths of the State will see rain, with isolated places seeing intense rainfall.
As of Wednesday, the monsoon has been officially declared till Chitradurga district. According to the long-term average of monsoon progress, it should have covered the state by June 5.
With strong rains in the pre-monsoon months, heavy rains, particularly in the catchment areas of the Western Ghats, will see reservoirs fill up to extents that are above the 10-year average, said meteorologists.