NorthEastMonsoon (NEM) 2020, Onset is Delayed

 

Northeast monsoon likely to set in after Oct. 25

Caught unawares: Sharp showers lashed various parts of Chennai on Monday.   | Photo Credit: R. Ravindran

Conditions in Pacific Ocean will lead to a delayed onset, says weather agency

The northeast monsoon, which contributes the major share of annual rainfall in the region, is likely to set in over Tamil Nadu after October 25, according to the Meteorological Department.

Officials of the Meteorological Department said the southwest monsoon continued over the south Indian region due to La Niña conditions prevailing over the Pacific Ocean. Moreover, weather systems that are forming over the Bay of Bengal and moving north off south Indian coastal areas would also influence westerlies to prevail in the region, including Tamil Nadu, till October 22.

S. Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said La Niña was a global weather pattern that caused the ocean surface temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean to drop and influenced changes in global wind patterns, affecting weather conditions in regions, including India.

Exceptions

“It is often considered unfavourable for the northeast monsoon over Tamil Nadu. But, we have had exceptions as in 2005 when the State had a good monsoon. This year, we expect a late onset,” he said. Normally, the northeast monsoon sets in around October 20.

Earlier, the department had forecast that the prevailing global weather phenomenon would cause the northeast monsoon to bring below normal rain over southern Tamil Nadu and near normal rainfall over the northern parts.