The Hindu : Karnataka News : Monsoon makes early arrival

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Monsoon makes early arrival

Staff Reporter

It may hit Bangalore in 24 to 48 hours

Mangalore received monsoon rain on Monday
Long-range forecast is ‘near-normal’ rainfall

Bangalore: Karnataka received its first showers of the south-west monsoon on Monday, two days after its early onset over the Kerala coast on May 23. Mangalore received a spell of light rainfall along with strong westerly winds, which distinguishes the monsoon from thundershowers.

Within the next 24 to 48 hours the monsoon will reach Bangalore, and by the end of the week it will advance into the rest of the State, said A. Muthuchami, director of the meteorological centre here.

‘Normal fluctuation’

As with Kerala, it will be an early monsoon for Bangalore. “The normal date of monsoon arriving in Bangalore is June 5. This year it is likely to arrive by May 26,” he said. However, this can be considered part of the “normal fluctuations” in the monsoon, said Mr. Muthuchami.

Conditions similar to the monsoon are already prevailing over Bangalore, but monsoon can only be declared if the rainfall measures 2.5 mm and is accompanied by strong westerly winds and dense clouds, he said.

Cyclone impact

The severe cyclonic storm Aila, which has brought devastation to parts of West Bengal, will have an “indirect” impact on Karnataka by pulling the monsoon system northwards with its fast-spiralling winds, Mr. Muthuchami said.

The northern limit of the monsoon has now advanced to Mangalore, Dharmapuri and Chennai, from its previous trajectory that touched Kochi and Nagapattinam.

Bangalore can expect thundershowers in the next couple of days, after which the typical pattern of the southwest monsoon season will begin.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s long-range forecast, rainfall during this south-west monsoon season (June to September) is likely to be “near normal” for the country as a whole. Karnataka is also expected to reflect the same pattern in rainfall quantity.

Cooler days

There will be a distinct dip in the mercury level as the monsoon season sets in, with the city’s maximum temperature likely to dip to 28 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature to drop further to 19 degrees, said Mr. Muthuchami.

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