Patna, May 14: The latest news from the weather gods is monsoon could come early to Bihar.
A day after private forecaster Skymet said monsoon will hit Kerala between May 28 and 30 ahead of the usual June 1, Patna weathermen claimed that southwest monsoon was likely to hit the Andaman Sea in two-three days. It is good news because monsoon currents entering Bihar and other eastern and northeastern states come via the Andaman Sea.
The news brings hope to residents and farmers in the state because Bihar has experienced drought for the past four years.
"Most ponds and lakes in the city have dried up because of truant showers in the past few years," said Ashok Ghosh, faculty in-charge, department of environment and water management, AN College, Patna. "Besides, the water level has gone down. So, in such a situation, timely and abundant rainfall is much- needed this year."
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its all-India weather forecast today, has said conditions are favourable for southwest monsoon to set in over the Nicobar Islands, Andaman Sea and parts of south Bay of Bengal around May 17.
Weathermen said a cyclonic circulation in the southeast Bay of Bengal is supporting the monsoon current. So, they expect the current to hit Bihar before June 10, the usual date of monsoon onset in Bihar.
The weather agency also gave a forecast for isolated pre-monsoon showers in the state till May 18. Patna Met office director Ashish Sen added that the northern parts are expected to receive the showers.
"Several districts in northeastern and northwestern parts of the state are likely to witness isolated thundershowers because of a western disturbance over Nepal and incoming moisture from the Bay of Bengal," he said. "Overcast conditions are likely in the central parts of the state, including Patna."
Since 2010, monsoon has been delayed in Bihar. Last year, southwest monsoon set in on June 22 and the year before that on June 18.
"The experience last year was quite sour as even after the onset of monsoon, we faced a dry spell for several days," said Prem Chand Tiwari, a farmer in Bhore block of Gopalganj district. "It affected the growth of paddy seedlings. So, an early onset of monsoon would be highly beneficial for sowing of paddy seedlings this time."
Elaborating on the expected advancement of the southwest monsoon, another senior Patna meteorologist said: "Based on weather conditions over the Arabian Sea and the south Bay of Bengal, we expect southwest monsoon to hit the Arabian Sea around May 17, three days before its normal onset date. A cyclonic circulation over the south Bay of Bengal is expected to push the easterly component of the southwest monsoon towards itself."
Southwest monsoon current enters land area in India in two wings. The eastern wing hits Andaman and advances towards the northeast and eastern parts of the country while the southern wing hits Kerala.
Met officials said prevailing easterly winds and high level of moisture in Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha because of Nor'wester thundershowers earlier this week are favourable for advancement of the monsoon current.
"Easterly winds are blowing in the lower level of atmosphere and the moisture level is hovering around 40-60 per cent," said the senior Met official. "Based on the prevailing water conditions and forecast for the next seven-10 days, we are almost certain that the onset of monsoon in Bihar would be either on time or even early."
The normal date for onset of monsoon in Bihar through the northeastern districts of Purnea and Katihar among others is June 10 and it hits central parts of the state around June 13.
