Monsoon weakens temporarily, revival from June 15: IMD

PUNE: The desperate wait for rains in the parched regions of interior Maharashtra has been delayed by about five to six days as the monsoon current has become temporarily weak. The 'monsoon like' rains happening on the Konkan coast north of Karnataka and Mumbai are likely to weaken in one or two days.

As a result of two back-to-back droughts, India has turned importer of wheat, maize and also soyameal. However, as the met department has forecast a La Nina event towards the end of the monsoon season, the industry is upbeat about being able to restart export of some agricultural commodities like maize and soyameal.

After advancing till north Karnataka on June 10, there has been no progress of the monsoon current, especially on the west coast. Monsoon has yet not reached Goa and the coastal parts of Maharashtra, even though this region has been getting 'monsoon like' rains from a few days. "The strength of the monsoon flow and its spacial continuity are not enough to declare the onset of monsoon in this region. We expect revival in monsoon to happen from the evening of June 15," said Sunitha Devi, director (weather forecast), India Meteorological Department, Pune.

There should be cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal for the water scarce regions of Marathwada and the rainshadow region of madhya Maharasthra to get rains. As this circulation is likely to happen from June 16, interior Maharashtra can get rainfall only after June 16.

The Konkan coast of Maharasthra along with Mumbai has been getting rains due to westerly winds and thunderstorm. However, this rainfall activity too is likely to decrease in one or two days.

The monsoon is expected to further advance in north Bay of Bengal, some parts of north eastern states, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim in next two to three days.