The monsoon is showing signs of becoming active once again as a low-pressure system moves inland from the Bay of Bengal, transporting fresh moisture towards different parts of India.
The system is expected to trigger several days of rainfall, with some regions likely to experience heavy to very heavy showers between September 12 and 15.
WHAT WILL MAKE IT RAIN?
A low-pressure area acts much like a natural rain-producing system. It pulls in moisture-rich air, causes the air to rise and cool, and helps clouds develop before they eventually release rainfall.
The current system developed over the northwest and west-central Bay of Bengal, close to the coasts of southern Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.
It is now expected to travel west-northwestwards, pushing moisture further into the country and influencing weather conditions across central and western India.
The development comes as the southwest monsoon enters its later stage.
Even during this phase, low-pressure systems travelling inland can produce strong spells of rain before the monsoon starts withdrawing from the country.
TWO STATES TO FACE HEAVY RAINS
Gujarat is among the regions expected to experience considerable rainfall activity. Fairly widespread to widespread rain is forecast across the state between September 12 and 15.
Parts of Gujarat, particularly south Gujarat and the Saurashtra-Kutch region, could receive isolated very heavy rainfall on September 13 and 14.
Some areas may also witness thunderstorms and lightning during this period.
Neighbouring Maharashtra is also likely to see increased rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted isolated heavy showers, along with more widespread rainfall over Konkan and Goa and parts of Maharashtra during the same period.
A FAST-MOVING SYSTEM
The weather system is expected to move relatively rapidly during this spell.
The speed of the system matters because a weather system that moves through a region quickly generally has less time to release large quantities of rain over a single location.
By contrast, a slower-moving system can remain over an area for longer, allowing rainfall to accumulate and potentially increasing the risk of flooding.
Even so, a fast-moving system can still produce intense rainfall over short periods. This is what Gujarat and Maharashtra could experience in the coming days.
The upcoming spell may provide beneficial rainfall to parts of both states while also bringing sudden bursts of heavy rain in some areas as the monsoon season approaches its final phase.
