The much-awaited northeast monsoon, which brings the major share of yearly rainfall to the State, is at the doorstep. Many places across the State have started receiving showers, signalling the onset of the ‘winter monsoon’ by Friday.
Several parts of the State such as Madurai and Ramanathapuram received a good spell of showers on Thursday.
While the sun shone brightly over Chennai in the morning, many areas got their share of surprise showers during the day. This weather pattern is typical of the monsoon.
However, the beginning of the rainfall activity is just a prelude to the arrival of the monsoon, note officials of the Meteorological Department.
During the past 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, Coonoor in the Nilgiris district registered the highest volume of 8 cm rain. S. Balachandran, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai, said, “What we have got is only scattered rainfall that has covered 40% of the region. We need a fairly widespread rainfall, which means nearly 75% of the State would get showers, to declare the onset of the monsoon.”
According to IMD’s weather inference, conditions are favourable for the monsoon arrival on Friday as rainfall is likely to extend to most parts of the State.
Easterly winds
“The southwest monsoon has withdrawn and easterly winds that herald the northeast monsoon has set in. Coastal districts have started getting rain,” he said.
People are pinning their hopes on the northeast monsoon this year, particularly in districts such as Chennai to tide over the water crisis. The State looks forward to a good monsoon after a year of drought.
