South-West monsoon has entered the north-eastern States after some delay even as the Arabian Sea arm braced for the expected push along the West Coast.
Normally, the onset in the North-East happens either just ahead or along with that along the Kerala coast.
WHIRL WEAKENS
The entry materialised despite the weakening of a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal, which was expected to ‘step up’ flows further into the region.
But this was matched by the formation of a counterpart circulation off the Konkan coast.
It could become the pivot around which the monsoon would launch itself into Mumbai and South Gujarat.
Expert meteorologist Akhilesh Gupta is of the view that resulting enhanced flows could touch off activity once again in the Bay.
This phase would see the monsoon march into parts of North-West as well.
Meanwhile on Friday, the Met Department said that the northern limit of the monsoon passed through Harnai, Parbhani, Ramgundam, Visakhapatnam, Aizwal, Guwahati, Cooch Behar and Gangtok.
Conditions were favourable for further advance into more parts of Konkan; Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada; parts of Vidarbha; South Chhattisgarh; South Odisha; and remaining Andhra Pradesh.
Cumulative seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole during the first week of monsoon was estimated to be one per cent below long period average.
Out of 36 meteorological subdivisions, rainfall was excess in 15; normal in six; deficient in six; and scanty in nine.
Peninsular India (except Konkan and Goa where the monsoon has not reached); West Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh; Bihar; Jharkhand; sub-Himalayan West Bengal; Sikkim; and Lakshadweep received normal to excess rainfall.
Forecast for next week said widespread to fairly widespread rainfall would break out over sub-Himalayan West Bengal; Sikkim; the north eastern States; coastal Karnataka; Konkan and Goa; Kerala; Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep.
OUTLOOK STRONG
Scattered rainfall would lash East India during the first half before scaling up during the second.
Scattered rainfall activity would break out over south interior Peninsula as well.
Rains are forecast to race into Central and North-West India during the second half of the week.
Monsoon would advance into south Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and remaining parts of Odisha during this period. vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in