Rainy Week For Northeast India: Pre-Monsoon Activity Begins
Key Takeaways:
- Northeast India recorded a massive 79% rainfall deficit between March 1 and March 10.
- Most parts of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh remain under a large rainfall shortfall.
- Cyclonic circulations over Assam–Arunachal and Bangladesh are likely to trigger extended pre-monsoon activity.
- Thunderstorms and rain may intensify over Assam Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal first.
Winter rainfall was rather poor this season for the entire Northeast India. Even during the first ten days of March, rainfall remained scanty. East and Northeast India together have a shortfall of 79% rainfall between March 1 and March 10. Most parts of Assam & Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and the sub-division sharing the border with Myanmar have a large deficit. However, there have been scattered rain and thundershowers, light to moderate in nature, during the past 24 hours. Now, the entire region is expected to witness extended pre-monsoon activity over the next one week or even more.
Favourable features for the activity include a cyclonic circulation over Assam & Arunachal Pradesh and another one over Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal. Aiding these two features is an anticyclonic pool of winds marked over the East Bay of Bengal and the neighbouring Myanmar region. This is pumping moist winds from the Bay of Bengal across the entire northeastern parts.
The weather activity will be more intense over the Assam Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal to start with, and later cover Meghalaya and the far eastern parts of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Weather activity in this region becomes more sprawling and stronger during the late night and early morning hours. Sikkim, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Meghalaya are notorious pockets for inclement weather during this period. Thunderstorms and lightning strikes become more fierce and damaging for extended durations. Prolonged and continuous weather activity may trigger landslides, choking roads and highways. Exercise caution for safe and secure operations.
