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‘Mini-cloudbursts’ are on the rise, says IMD chief | Current Affairs | Vision IAS

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‘Mini-cloudbursts’ are on the rise, says IMD chief

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Cloudburst and Rainfall Trends in India

The recent weather patterns in India have shown significant activity, particularly with the monsoon season and instances of cloudbursts. As outlined by Director-General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there are noteworthy trends and statistics regarding rainfall and cloudbursts.

Cloudburst Trends

  • No Increasing Trend: There is no observed increasing trend in cloudbursts over India recently.
  • Mini Cloudbursts: There has been an increase in ‘mini cloudbursts’ — defined as 5 cm of rain per hour.
  • Definition and Forecasting: A cloudburst is defined as 10 cm of rain in an hour over 20-30 square km. Forecasting remains challenging, and cloudbursts are typically reported within 24 hours after the event.

Monsoon Rainfall Patterns

  • Above Normal Rainfall: Rainfall from June 1 to August 31 was 6% above the normal 70 cm.
  • Regional Variations:
    • Northwest India experienced 26% more rain than usual.
    • Central India and the Southern Peninsula saw increases of 8.6% and 9.3% respectively.
    • East and northeast India received 17% less rain than typical.

Factors Influencing Monsoon Activity

  • Western Disturbances: The active monsoon in northern India was attributed to western disturbances from the Mediterranean and storms from the Bay of Bengal.
  • September Forecast: An increasing trend in September rainfall has been observed since 1980.

Challenges in Cloudburst Notification

  • Data Limitations: A lack of meteorological stations in certain regions complicates categorizing cloudbursts.
  • Satellite Limitations: While satellite imagery can warn of intense clouding, predicting a cloudburst remains difficult.
  • Tags :
  • Monsoon
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