The hyperactive low-pressure area has dumped heavy rain over most parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and even parts of Odisha during the 24 hours ending Thursday morning.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said that places as far apart as Marathwada, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and the north-eastern States received overnight rain.
The heaviest was reported from Kalingapatnam (32 cm); Ongole (31 cm); Kakinada (20 cm), Bapatla and Balasore (12 cm each) and Waltair (10 cm).
The IMD says the low-pressure area will move north-west. But it has withdrawn the outlook for a track that would have taken the system into the North-East Arabian Sea. This is apparently because of a barrage of opposing winds associated with a western disturbance waiting just across the north-west border with Pakistan. The low-pressure area will be forced to stay put over Rayalaseema-Telangana where it will weaken gradually into a conventional trough.
RAINS FOR EAST
It would extend east-northeast into Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal, bringing even more untimely rain for these areas as also for parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
US National Centres for Environmental Prediction sees the central and east-central peninsula and adjoining eastern parts of the country receiving above normal rains for the week ending October 29.
East Maharashtra apart, adjoining eastern Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, too, will come under rain footprint for the period as per this outlook.
An IMD assessment of the situation mostly tended to agree with the scenario. It has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh until Friday morning. A similar forecast is valid for part of Odisha, Rayalaseema and Karnataka for the period.
Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh and north interior Karnataka are under heavy rain watch for the next 24 hours until Saturday morning. Parts of Gangetic West Bengal and south interior Karnataka, representing two extreme ends of the trough may also get lashed by rain bands during this period.
vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in