Latest news with #MinistryofEarthSciences
Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
After cargo ship mishap, small patches of oil slick reported along Alappuzha coast
Four days after Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 capsized off Kerala coast, small patches of oil slick were Wednesday traced at Alappuzha coast. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) director Dr T M Balakrishnan Nair Wednesday confirmed that there were traces of oil along the coast. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA 3, a 28-year-old vessel, was sailing from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi when it capsized around 25 km southwest of Alappuzha. The ship went down with more than 600 containers, some of which washed ashore Monday. 'Our six-member team has found small patches of oil slick along the coast. The oil that reached the Alappuzha coast in small quantities is bunker oil used in ships,' he said Wednesday. 'As the oil spill from the ship has been contained to a certain extent, we do not expect a massive oil slick. However, it would continue to appear in southern Kerala coast in the coming days also. Everything depends upon how much oil has leaked out from the ship.' Dr Balakrishnan said the oil slick could affect marine life, especially since monsoon is breeding time for many fish species. 'The impact would depend upon the quantity of the oil being oozing out from the ship. The direction of the wind and the current also decide on the impact and spread of oil slick,' he said. On Sunday, INCOIS, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, had predicted the spilled oil pollutant could reach the coastal stretch of Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagappally within 36-48 hrs of release from the capsized ship. The Indian Coast Guard had said Tuesday that efforts were underway to respond to it. This includes deploying vessels with oil spill dispersant to contain the spread of oil and mobilising a dedicated pollution control vessel, Samudra Prahari, from Mumbai.
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
Monsoon rainfall likely to be 106% of Long Period Average
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has issued its updated Long-Range Forecast for the 2025 Southwest Monsoon season (June-September) along with the Monthly Rainfall and Temperature Outlook for June 2025. According to the forecast, the seasonal rainfall across the country as a whole is likely to be 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA), with a model error of ±4%, indicating a high probability of above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season. Regionally, the rainfall is most likely to be above normal over Central India and the South Peninsular region, while Northwest India is expected to experience normal rainfall levels (ranging between 92-108% of LPA). In contrast, Northeast India is likely to receive below-normal rainfall (<94% of LPA).
Hans India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
IMD forecasts above-normal monsoon rainfall
New Delhi/Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that the country would receive above-normal rainfall during the June-September southwest monsoon season this year. The core monsoon zone area will also receive above-normal rainfall this season. 'The associated rainfall will be 106 per cent of the long-period average (LPA) of 870 mm, which indicates above-normal rainfall for the season,' said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director-General, IMD, while releasing the second-stage long-range forecast (LRF) in New Delhi. The IMD thus revised its prediction of 105 per cent of the LPA, made in the first-stage LRF, issued in April. For the first time, the IMD has released the seasonal rainfall forecast at the level of a meteorological subdivision. Rainfall across south peninsular and central India will be above normal and quantitatively above 106 per cent of the LPA. Normal seasonal rainfall is forecast for northwest India–96-104 per cent of the LPA. However, below-normal seasonal rainfall (less than 94 per cent of the LPA) is expected over northeast India, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir this year. Most importantly, the core monsoon zone will receive 106 per cent of the LPA and this rainfall will largely benefit the rain-fed agriculture practised in this region. India receives over 75 per cent of its annual rainfall during the June-September season and this rainfall is important for kharif crops. This year, the southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, which was early by eight days. Since then, the monsoon has made swift progress, covering some parts of Maharashtra, the entire northeast and most of the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea regions. On the early onset, M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said, 'There were multiple large-scale features like the El Nino southern oscillation and Indian Ocean dipole, among others, that remained favourable.' The IMD has predicted normal to above-normal rainfall in June over most regions of the country and quantitatively it will be 108 per cent of the LPA, which is 166 mm. Below-normal rainfall is expected over the extreme north regions of India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, along with northeast regions of the country. The IMD said the heatwave days would be below normal. Normally, heatwave events last two-three days in June. 'But this year, due to above-normal rainfall, the heatwave will be below normal. Heatwave will remain limited to northwest India,' explained Mohapatra.
Mint
7 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
Weather Update: IMD issues yellow alert for Mumbai, orange for Tamil Nadu — check forecast for Delhi and other cities
Weather update: After being pummelled by heavy downpours at the start of the week, Mumbai saw a brief respite on Tuesday morning. However, this break may be short-lived, as the IMD has issued a yellow alert for areas across Maharashtra, with forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall along the west coast—including Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa—continuing through June 1. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, flash floods hit Tirunelveli's Manimuthar Dam waterfalls, prompting the weather observatory to issue an orange alert for the state. Tourist's entry to the spot have also been restricted. Here's a look at the weather forecast for Mumbai, Delhi, other areas. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Maharashtra, with Mumbai likely to witness heavy rainfall at isolated places on May 28, Wednesday. Light to moderate rains is likely for May 29-31, states IMD's latest release. Mumbai, India - May 27, 2025: A bazz from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link has washed ashore at Chowpatty near Hinduja hospital come yesterday in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) Meanwhile, other areas of the coastal state, including Thane, Palghar, Raigad are also likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. In Delhi, the weather is likely to remain partly cloudy, with the possibility of thundery development. The IMD has predicted light rains along with thunderstorms, lightning has been predicted for May 29-May 30. Date IMD forecast May 28 Partly cloudy sky; thundery development possible May 29 Partly cloudy sky; thunderstorm with gusty winds (speeds reaching up to 30-40kmph) May 30 Partly cloudy sky; thunderstorms with gusty winds With conditions now more favourable for the advancement of Southwest monsoon, the IMD has now forecast scattered to fairly widespread rainfall across Telangana, coastal Andhra Pradesh for the next five days. From May 27 to June 2, Kerala, Mahe, and Coastal Karnataka are expected to be lashed by fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rain, with occasional bouts of thunder, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, stated the weather observatory. At a press conference, M. Ravichandran, Secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, announced that India is likely to receive over 108% of the long-period average rainfall of 166.9 mm in June. 'Most regions across the country are expected to witness normal to above-normal rainfall this month,' he said. 'However, parts of southern peninsular India, as well as some areas in the northwest and northeast, may see below-normal precipitation.' IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra added that this anticipated rainfall could bring normal to below-normal maximum temperatures for much of India, with the exception of several pockets in the northwest and northeast, which may continue to see higher temperatures.
NDTV
7 days ago
- Climate
- NDTV
Above-Normal June Rainfall To Keep Heat In Check In India: Weather Body
New Delhi: India is likely to receive above-normal rainfall in June, which is expected to keep maximum temperatures in check in most parts of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. At a press conference, M Ravichandran, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said rainfall across the country during June is likely to be more than 108 per cent of the long-period average of 166.9 mm. "During June, most of the country is expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall. However, some southern parts of peninsular India and parts of northwest and northeast India may receive below-normal rain," he said. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that due to this expected good rainfall, most parts of the country may experience normal to below-normal maximum temperatures, except for many areas in Northwest and Northeast India. Above-normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country, except some parts of central India and the adjoining south Peninsula owing to the cloudiness, he said. From June to September, he said, the country is likely to receive 106 per cent of the long-period average rainfall of 87 cm. Rainfall between 96 per cent and 104 per cent of the 50-year average of 87 cm is considered 'normal', the IMD said. Northwest India is likely to receive normal rainfall, while the Northeast may see below-normal rain. Central India and the southern peninsular region are expected to receive above-normal rainfall, he said. The monsoon core zone is likely to receive above-normal rainfall (more than 106 per cent of the long-period average) this season. This zone includes parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha and nearby areas, which depend heavily on monsoon rain for agriculture. Above-normal rainfall is expected in most parts of the country, except for Ladakh, adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh, northeastern states and some parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. Some isolated areas in Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu may experience below-normal rainfall. The southwest monsoon reached Kerala on May 24, marking its earliest arrival over the Indian mainland since 2009, when it reached the southern state on May 23. The primary rain bearing system set in over Mumbai 16 days before the usual date, making it the earliest since 1950. The southwest monsoon usually makes its onset over Kerala by June 1, reaches Mumbai by June 11 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15. Meteorologists emphasise that the date of monsoon onset has no direct correlation with the total seasonal rainfall. The monsoon arriving early or late in Kerala or Mumbai does not mean it will cover other parts of the country. It is characterised by large-scale variabilities and global, regional and local features. India saw 934.8 mm of rainfall in 2024, 108 per cent of the average. In 2023, it recorded 820 mm, 94.4 per cent of the average. In 2022, it saw 925 mm; 870 mm in 2021; and 958 mm in 2020, according to the IMD data. The monsoon plays a critical role in India's agriculture-dependent economy, providing vital water for crops, replenishing reservoirs, and supporting drinking water and hydropower generation. Agriculture supports the livelihood of around 42 per cent of the population and accounts for 18.2 per cent of the country's GDP.
