India’s southwest monsoon has slowed down significantly, with rainfall activity dropping sharply across large parts of the country just days after the seasonal rains advanced into southern and central regions.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country received only 19.2 mm of rainfall between June 4 and June 15, compared to the normal average of 53.7 mm. This means India is currently facing a rainfall deficit of 64%.
The rainfall departure map shows a concerning situation across many parts of the country. Large areas of central, southern and eastern India are marked in yellow and red, indicating deficient to largely deficient rainfall.
Satellite images captured by INSAT-3DS on June 15 also highlight the slowdown. Instead of the widespread cloud cover usually seen during an active monsoon, much of peninsular and central India appears unusually clear.
Most of the cloud activity is currently concentrated over the Himalayan region, northeastern India and areas north of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Meanwhile, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon appears weak and fragmented.
The slowdown comes even though the monsoon has recently advanced into parts of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and central India. In other words, while the monsoon has officially moved into these regions, it has not brought the expected amount of rainfall.
Meteorologists say the problem is not a shortage of moisture over the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal. Instead, the issue is linked to atmospheric conditions high above the Earth’s surface.
At the centre of the problem is the westerly jet stream, a fast-moving band of air in the upper atmosphere. This jet stream has shifted much farther south than usual.
This unusual shift is interfering with the easterly jet, which normally helps strengthen monsoon circulation over India. Under normal conditions, the easterly jet encourages air to rise, leading to cloud formation and widespread thunderstorms.
However, stronger-than-usual westerly winds are disrupting this process. As a result, cloud formation and rainfall are being suppressed, even though plenty of moisture is available over the surrounding seas.
Because of this, the monsoon has technically advanced across many parts of India but has struggled to deliver meaningful rainfall. Weather experts describe the current situation as a temporary but significant “monsoon pause” caused by conditions in the upper atmosphere rather than problems over the oceans.
Forecast models suggest that rainfall activity could gradually improve later this week as the jet stream pattern weakens and monsoon circulation begins to reorganise.
Until then, large parts of the country will continue to wait for the widespread rains that normally mark the peak of the southwest monsoon season.
Also Read: Early Monsoon Effect! Mumbai Breaks 107-Year May Rain Record https://www.vibesofindia.com/early-monsoon-effect-mumbai-breaks-107-year-may-rain-record/
