Goa: Rain activity to pick up pace after week of humidity

PANAJI: In the absence of any significant weather systems prevailing near the Goa coast over the past week, and cloud formations comparatively less, most parts of Goa have had very little rain recently. Though the maximum temperature has not crossed 31 degrees C yet, the weather overall has been very humid.
Experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Panaji, pointed out that when there is not much rain for two to three days, the temperature is expected to rise by one or two degrees than that of the rainy days. The maximum temperature as of Friday-Saturday was around 31 degrees, they said.
After last week’s torrential downpour across the state, followed by a brief hiatus, Goa was expected to witness a revival of rainfall activity from July 23-24. This was owing to the probable circulation over the Kerala coast. The northward movement of this weather system, however, is very slow and still hasn’t reached the latitude of Goa.
“For the state to receive good rainfall, the wind is required to be westerly or south westerly. Now they’re southerly due to which clouds were moving mostly parallel to the state’s coast,” IMD scientist Rahul M said.
IMD had, however, forecasted a change in wind pattern owing to which winds were scheduled to be southwesterly on Saturday late evening, thus ushering in rain.
“The rain showers that will follow may not be as prolonged as the heavy showers experienced last week. Although, since we are in the mid-season of the monsoon, showers of an hour or two also reach the ‘heavy’ mark,” Rahul said.
Due to this, IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning at isolated places for Sunday. Winds of speed 30-40kmph also have been forecast for Sunday.
IMD is also observing a circulation above the Bay of Bengal. It is currently distant from the Eastern coast and may not have much impact over rainfall activity in Goa, but is being monitored for intensification and its movement along the Eastern coast.
“If it reaches the optimum distance at a favourable location, rainfall will increase over Goa by late next week,” Rahul said.