Monsoon withdraws fully from Maharashtra; dry weather and rising heat set in across the state
The south-west monsoon withdrew from the remaining parts of Maharashtra on Thursday, leaving the state with a 19 per cent rain deficit for the season and rising temperatures.
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The weather has changed considerably over the past few days. On Thursday (the 8th), the south-west monsoon winds withdrew from the remaining parts of Maharashtra as well, marking the monsoon's exit from the entire state.
The monsoon has also withdrawn from parts of Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The meteorological department has indicated that the monsoon could withdraw from some more parts of the country in the next three to four days.
The monsoon's withdrawal from the state began on Saturday. The withdrawal line, which had reached Brahmapuri, Parbhani, Baramati and Harne, stayed in one place on Wednesday, which slightly delayed the exit. On Thursday, the monsoon winds withdrew from the rest of Maharashtra too.
The state recorded a major shortage of water during this rainy season. September saw poor rainfall, leaving a full 52 per cent deficit for the month. For the monsoon season as a whole, the state received 19 per cent less rain.
Most districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada have been hit hardest by the shortfall. Drought-like conditions have developed in many areas. The effect of El Nino, the rain deficit and a long break in rainfall since August have left the state facing the heat of drought this season.
After the monsoon's withdrawal, the weather has turned dry in most parts of the state. In some places the maximum temperature has risen by three to four degrees, and people are facing humidity and heat at the very start of October. Temperatures have also gone up in the Konkan. The meteorological department has forecast a further rise in maximum temperatures over the next few days.
Now that the south-west monsoon has withdrawn from the country, another major change in the weather is likely. According to the latest forecast of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a new Western Disturbance is set to affect north-west India. Because of it, rain and snowfall are possible in the western Himalayan region between October 6 and 10. Even so, temperatures in these areas appear to be rising.
