The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in Northeast India over the next five days, from Friday to next Tuesday, June 9-13. The IMD has predicted scattered to widespread rains of light to moderate intensity, along with thunderstorms and lightning. Heavy showers will also soak isolated locations across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram during this five-day forecast period. Very heavy downpours are likely to impact Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on Friday (June 9) and Assam-Meghalaya on Monday and Tuesday (June 12-13). The delayed arrival of the monsoon will be aided by a cyclonic circulation located off the coast of Myanmar.
As per a recent report from The Weather Channel, the southwest monsoon has begun progressing over the Indian mainland after arriving over Kerala on June 8. While the western arm of the monsoon gradually covers more parts of South Peninsular India, the eastern arm looks set to enter the country from the northeastern side. The latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that the conditions are favorable for the further advancement of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of southwest, central, and northeast Bay of Bengal, as well as some parts of the northeastern states during the next 24 hours.
The monsoon rains look set to mark their return with a bang, triggering particularly intense rainfall activity across Northeast India over the next five days. The IMD has forecast scattered to fairly widespread rains of light to moderate intensity, along with thunderstorms and lightning, over the region from Friday to next Tuesday, June 9-13. Heavy showers (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) will also soak isolated locations across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram during this five-day forecast period. Further, very heavy downpours (64.5 mm-204 mm) are likely to impact Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on Friday (June 9) and Assam-Meghalaya on Monday and Tuesday (June 12-13).
Given these predictions, the IMD has issued a yellow watch (meaning ‘be aware’ of local weather) over the entire region for the next five days. However, the advisory levels may well escalate to an orange alert (‘be prepared’ for rough conditions), especially during the very heavy rainfall days. This wet spell, primarily triggered by the incoming monsoonal winds, will also be aided by a cyclonic circulation located off the coast of Myanmar, The Weather Channel’s met team adds.
If the monsoon onset prediction for tomorrow does turn out to be accurate, the seasonal rains will have arrived over the northeastern region about a week late. Normally, the northern limit of monsoon (NLM) reaches the region by June 2 and covers most of it between June 5-10. Regardless of the delayed arrival, Northeast India is expected to enjoy a wetter-than-usual monsoon season this year, with normal to above-normal rains predicted over many parts of the region for the next four months.
For those living in the region, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest weather developments and to take necessary precautions during this period of heavy rainfall. For weather, science, and COVID-19 updates on the go, download The Weather Channel App (on Android…) and stay informed.
