Monsoon to revive briefly but rain deficiency to stay

After the driest August since record-keeping began, the southwest monsoon is likely to revive briefly for 2-3 days this week, but weaken again after that, weather experts said. There is an 11% deficiency in monsoon rainfall over the country, with 12% deficiency over central India; 14% deficiency over the peninsula; and 18% deficiency over the east and northeast as on Sunday.

- Jayashree Nandi

The drought indicator of the India Meteorological Department showed large parts of India under mild to moderately dry conditions.

August was the driest and warmest for the entire country since weather records began in 1901, HT reported on August 31. There were 20 "break monsoon" days in the month compared to 16 such days in 2005, which was the previous record for highest break days, when the monsoon is extremely weak.

There is a gradual increase in break monsoon days in recent years, according to long-term data maintained by the Met department. In 2005, it accounted for 25% deficiency in August while this year, the figure is 36%.

"A cyclonic circulation is lying over northeast Bay of Bengal.

Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal in the next 48 hours," the weather bureau said on Sunday.