Met department hints at monsoon revival in Maharashtra from today

PUNE: Monsoon revival is in sight for Maharashtra, with the rainfall activity set to increase from Saturday.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said there were chances of heavy to very heavy rain, and even extremely heavy rainfall in isolated parts of the state for few days after July 10. The city has a heavy rain (at isolated places) warning from Monday (July 12), while ghat areas in the district have been put on a very heavy to extremely heavy rain alert from July 13.
Anupam Kashyapi, the head of weather forecasting division, IMD, Pune, told TOI, “Rain may be widespread for several days (up to a week) after July 10 because of the formation of several weather systems — a strong upper air cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal, an upcoming low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and the strengthening of westerly winds, among other reasons, including likely formation of offshore trough.”
An IMD forecast on Friday said further strengthening of south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea and the likely formation of a low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal around July 11 were likely to cause enhanced rainfall activity with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall along the west coast and adjoining peninsular India during the next five days. Isolated heavy to very heavy falls with isolated extremely heavy rain are very likely over Maharashtra and Goa, among other regions of peninsular India, during the July 9-13 period. Isolated extremely heavy falls are also likely over ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra on July 12-13, and Konkan and Goa during July 11-13.
Kashyapi said monsoon revival was likely not only in Maharashtra but also in the country. “Revival of monsoon over northwest and central India is expected from July 10. Among other reasons, a shear zone has developed over the central parts of the country at 20° North and is likely to persist for a few days. Konkan-Goa and Vidarbha region are likely to get widespread rain (more than 75% areas) during the next five to seven days. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations are also likely here. Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada have chances of widespread rain from around July 10, with very heavy rainfall to extremely heavy rain at isolated places warnings for ghat areas,” he said.
The monsoon revival news comes against the backdrop of less kharif sowing in Maharashtra this monsoon so far compared to the last year because of lull in rainfall activities. Last year, the total sowing till July 6 was around 71%, which this time is approximately 61% (till July 5). A recent report from the agriculture department stated that the crops sown were in germination to growth stage and if there was no rain for the next 8-10 days, emergency planning would be required.
Vikas Patil, the director of agriculture (extension and training), agriculture Commissionerate, told TOI, “Though rainfall has restarted in some parts of state, the agriculture belt in Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar and Jalgaon districts is reeling from dry conditions. Monsoon deficits here currently range from 22-52%, which is a concern. Sangli, Satara and Solapur have also recorded less rainfall so far. Once the rain begins, farmers can restart sowing in Maharashtra. Sowing should be complete in the state with the upcoming rain spells.”
Dr Kripan Ghosh, head, agriculture meteorology division, IMD, Pune, said, “Revival of monsoon and likely spells of rain will be helpful for sowing of kharif crops in unsown areas of Maharashtra. Farmers are advised to undertake sowing at optimum soil moisture ( vapsa) condition. The farmers, who have already sown their crops earlier and are experiencing moisture deficiency, will also benefit from these rain spells.”