Nagpur: The director of Regional Meteorological Centre has stated that Central India farmers should not get carried away by the first spell of monsoon and start sowing only in June end. As per the met department’s prediction, a dry spell in mid-June might hit sowing in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. While some parts of the region are witnessing pre-monsoon showers, the first spell is expected to last only for a few days.
On Friday, monsoon hit Mumbai and touched the southern tip of Gadchiroli. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), conditions were favourable for the further advancement of the south-west monsoon into more parts of the central Arabian Sea and Maharashtra.
AD Tathe, director of Regional Meteorological Centre, Nagpur, said that monsoon is expected to cover the entire Vidarbha in the next 48 hours. “Most parts of the region have started witnessing pre-monsoon showers, even Nagpur did on Thursday,” he said adding that in the next 24 hours, monsoon will hit Washim, Chandrapur and other districts.
On Friday, the maximum temperature recorded in Nagpur was 36.7 degree Celsius which was the highest in the region. In the last 24 hours, Nagpur division received 13.75 milimeter rainfall on an average. Korpana taluka in Chandrapur district received the highest — 76.80 mm.
Though timely arrival of monsoon is good news for the state, the dry spell might prove to be a tough time for farmers. “The dry spell is expected to occur immediately after the onset of rains. Farmers, who go for sowing right after the rains, will face difficulty and losses due to the break in rains,” said Tathe.
The dry spell is expected to commence post June 12 and continuously last for 10-15 days. “During this period, the temperature might not increase but humidity will. Some isolated places might experience light showers,” added Tathe.
As per the second stage long range forecast for the season (June to September) issued by IMD, the season rainfall for Central India will be 99% of the long period average (LPA). Quantitatively, the season rainfall for the country is likely to be 97% of the LPA.