The productive run of western disturbances across North-West India and the occasional easterly wave in the South has dramatically altered the country’s rainfall profile.

A surplus of 19 per cent was recorded as of yesterday (from New Year) in what has been an essentially wet season until now.

ONLY EXCEPTIONS

Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and North-East India have been the only exceptions to the trend.

The rest of the country has by and large seen excess rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said.

And the good run is forecast to continue if the short-to-medium term outlook is any indication.   

An incoming well-endowed western disturbance is within earshot of making its entry into North-West India.

The third in the series of western disturbances, the weather-making systems originating from Southern Europe, has made for a busier February.

HEAVY RAIN, SNOW

A fourth disturbance is also in the making, forecast to enter North-West India immediately after the incoming one departs to the East and out of the country.

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast heavy rain and snow for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for the next two days.

Thunder squalls and/or hailstorms may roll out across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh during this period.

East Uttar Pradesh and North Madhya Pradesh may run into similar weather tomorrow, the IMD said.

EASTERLY WAVE

The fourth Western disturbance for February may coincide with a counterpart weather-setting wave in the South — an easterly wave across the South Bay of Bengal heading towards Sri Lanka and the adjoining South-East Peninsula.

The much heavier western disturbance number 2 had interacted with a concurrent easterly wave to set off thunderstorms across most parts of the country.

The bearing and strength of the fourth one is being watched closely to get a tab on likely consequences for weather across North-West and adjoining Central India.

vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in