IMD Forecasts Warmer November

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that most regions of India are expected of above-normal minimum temperatures except some areas in the northwest and west-central regions due to the strengthening of El Nino condition. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra states that rainfall over the whole India in November is most likely to be normal – 77 to 123 per cent – of the long-period average.

Above-normal rainfall, he added that, is likely over some areas of the southernmost parts of peninsular India, most parts of northwest India, and many parts of east-central, east and northeast India.

EI Nino conditions are occurring over the Equatorial Pacific Ocean and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions influencing over the Indian Ocean. As per the recent global forecasts, the El Nino conditions are likely to continue during the season and positive IOD conditions are likely to weaken during the coming months, IMD adds.

However, Mr Mohapatra observes, models suggest that El Nino conditions are doubtful to proceed into the next monsoon season.

El Nino conditions, the warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, are connected with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India.

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined as the difference in the sea surface temperatures between two areas – the western parts of the Indian Ocean near Africa and the eastern parts of the Indian ocean near Indonesia.

(With inputs from PTI)