Lonavala, parts of Maharashtra report ‘exceptional’ rain, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Western Ghats region of Maharashtra experienced "exceptional" rainfall, with Lonavala recording 1,300 mm from Sunday to Wednesday morning, including 525 mm on Tuesday alone.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies rainfall over 200 mm as "extremely high."
• Mahabaleshwar in Satara district received 513 mm on Monday, its highest 24-hour rainfall ever recorded.
• This heavy rainfall was attributed to a "depression" originating in the Bay of Bengal and monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea.
• Despite being an El Niño year, typically associated with "below normal" rainfall, pockets of intense precipitation can still occur.

Detailed Insights:

• The heavy downpour has significantly reduced the monsoon deficits in several coastal regions of Maharashtra.
• The intense rainfall led to adverse events such as landslides and a tunnel collapse in the affected areas.
• Palghar station reported a 1,000% increase in rainfall on Tuesday, receiving 304 mm against a normal of 26.7 mm.
• The IMD forecasts that the current monsoon activity is expected to subside by July 10, with the overall outlook for July remaining "below normal."
• The Western Ghats play a crucial role in the Indian monsoon system, acting as a climatic barrier that forces moisture-laden winds to rise, causing orographic rainfall.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• El Niño: A climate phenomenon characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, often leading to weaker monsoons in India.
• Depression: A low-pressure system in the atmosphere characterized by rising air, cloud formation, and often associated with unsettled weather conditions like rain and strong winds.
• Monsoon Deficit: When the actual rainfall received during the monsoon season is significantly less than the Long Period Average (LPA), indicating insufficient precipitation.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD): The national meteorological service of India, responsible for weather forecasting, monitoring climate patterns, and issuing warnings for severe weather events.