Monsoon might arrive a week early

STRONG ACTIVITY over Arabian Sea has expedited the movement of the monsoon current that reached Karnataka today well ahead of schedule. If similar situation persists and the low-pressure system that is developing over Arabian Sea intensifies, monsoon might hit the State more than a week ahead of schedule, sometimes after June 5, director of Regional Meteorological Centre Dr D P Dubey said today.

Dr Dubey said that the Arabian Sea is currently very active and facilitating fast movement of the monsoon current. Further, a low-pressure system is developing over the Sea near Kerala coast. When this system becomes full blown, it would further push the monsoon current into the inlands of the Indian sub-continent.

At this rate, monsoon is expected to reach Maharashtra in next two days and after that it would hit the State anytime after June 5. The normal date of arrival of monsoon in the State is June 13, thus the monsoon this time might be more than a week early.

The director said that normally once monsoon touched Mumbai, there is a lull, but the low-pressure system might nullify the effect this time and monsoon might move ahead unhindered.

HOT HUMID SUNDAY:  Meanwhile, the upper-air circulation system over Orissa Coast that was causing thunderstorm and rainfall activity in Southeast and Central MP has weakened.

This resulted in partial change in weather across the State as temperatures shot up on Sunday and conditions became humid and stuffy. Though many areas of Eastern and Central MP still received some rainfall and thunderstorm activity, the activity was milder than that experienced through entire last week.

In the Capital, most of the Sunday saw strong sunshine and stuffy humid conditions that caused citizens high discomfort. Though clouds gathered in the sky by evening, the high-velocity winds and rains were missing. The conditions continued to be humid till late in the evening. The maximum day temperature that was being recorded around 35-36 degrees during last week shot up to 39.1 degrees on Sunday.

The Northwestern parts of the State continued to swelter under severe heat with Sheopur Kalan recording the maximum temperature of 45 degrees. Gwalior recorded a high of 44.9 degrees. Indore and Jabalpur recorded 41.3 degrees and 40.7 degrees respectively.

Dr Dubey said that although the UAC has weakened, the pre-monsoon activity in the form of thunderstorm and rains towards evening would continue as Arabian Sea has become active. Thus a major hot phase might not recur in the State.