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In a recent announcement, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal minimum temperatures for the upcoming month of November across most of India. However, some regions in the northwest and west-central areas may experience exceptions due to the intensifying El Nino conditions. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD, shared this information during a press conference.
The IMD forecasts that the country’s overall rainfall in November is expected to be within the normal range, covering 77-123 percent of the long-period average. Additionally, above-normal rainfall is anticipated in specific regions, including the southernmost parts of the Indian peninsula, large portions of northwest India, and various areas in the east-central, east, and northeast regions.
El Nino conditions are currently prevailing in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean is experiencing positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions. Global forecasts indicate that El Nino conditions are likely to persist throughout the upcoming season, while positive IOD conditions are expected to weaken in the coming months, according to the IMD.
However, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra also mentioned that models suggest El Nino conditions are unlikely to extend into the next monsoon season. It is worth noting that El Nino conditions, characterized by the warming of waters in the Pacific Ocean near South America, are associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier weather in India. The Indian Ocean Dipole is defined as the difference in sea surface temperatures between the western and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean, near Africa and Indonesia, respectively.
