The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday predicted a higher probability of normal temperatures during winter this year in Haryana, Punjab, West Rajasthan, and Delhi NCR while normal to above normal minimum temperatures over many parts of northwest, south, and north east parts of the country from December 2021 to February 2022.
According to the IMD, India witnessed 645 events of heavy rainfall this year. Of them, 168 very heavy rainfall occurred in November, the highest in the month in five years.
In its forecast for minimum and maximum temperatures for the winter months, the IMD said that below normal minimum temperatures are most likely over some parts of the north interior peninsula. “Below normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except over some parts of northwest India and most parts of northeast India, where normal to above normal maximum temperatures are most likely during the upcoming winter season,” the IMD said.
“The rain in December in the peninsular region is likely to be above normal at around 132% of the long-period average. Currently, weak La Niña conditions are prevailing over equatorial Pacific region. The latest Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecasting System (MMCFS) forecast indicates that La Niña conditions are likely to strengthen and peak to moderate conditions during the upcoming winter season,” it said.
According to the IMD, the country saw 645 events of heavy rainfall and 168 of very heavy rainfall in November, the highest in the month in five years. The IMD recorded 11 extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.5 mm) events in the month, equalling the number reported last year.
The country saw 645 events of heavy rainfall (64.5 mm to 115.5 mm) and 168 events of very heavy rainfall (115.6 mm to 204.5 mm) in November, the highest in the last five years, according to the IMD's data. It was mainly because of five low-pressure systems over the Andaman Sea in November compared to 2.4 on an average in November. The northeast monsoon was also in its active phase last month. To put things in perspective, the number of heavy rainfall events this November was more than the total such events in the last four years -- 247 in 2020; 116 in 2019; 135 in 2018 and 139 in 2017. The Met office also said peninsular India gauged 160 per cent more rainfall -- 232.7 mm against the average of 89.5 mm -- in November, the highest in the month since 1901.
The country as a whole received 56.5 mm of rainfall against the normal of 30.5 mm -- an excess of 85.4 per cent -- in November.