File photo of fishermen in Port Blair
(Sudipto Das / BCCL, Kolkata)
Saturday, March 03: Pre-monsoon low-pressure systems are normal over the Indian Ocean and if the sea-surface temperature and other factors remain ideal, they often intensify into cyclonic storms with destructive force. On Friday morning, one such system developed over the North Andaman Sea region of the Bay of Bengal in the form of a depression—an intense low-pressure area. However, no substantial impact was forecast across any Indian coast as the system failed to gain much strength.
Despite low-impact in terms of wind speed, the first depression of the season did manage to draw in substantial moisture to drench many parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After sustaining its strength for 24 hours, the system weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area on Saturday morning by 11.30 am, confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The system is expected to weaken further into a low-pressure area by Saturday night and cross the Myanmar coast. Some model projections do indicate the possibility of re-emergence of the system from the hilly terrains of Myanmar but its intensity is likely to remain weak. “Adverse environmental conditions like enhanced vertical wind shear, decreased vorticity and decreased convergence over the system area caused it to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area,” explains the latest bulletin from the IMD.
Rains over Andaman and Nicobar
Over the last 48 hours, the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar has received more than 43 mm of rains on an average, taking the overall rainfall total in the pre-monsoon season to 86 mm since March 1—nearly three times the normal rainfall in the region during this time of the year. The capital city of Port Blair also registered substantial amounts of rainfall with 71.4 mm accumulated in just 24 hours till Saturday morning.
As per the forecasts from IMD, light to moderate rainfall of up to 60 mm is very likely over Andaman and Nicobar during the next 24 hours. Squally weather with wind speed gusting up to 45 kmph could prevail over the Andaman Sea till Saturday evening, while sea conditions remain rough till Saturday night. Fishers are advised not to venture into the Andaman Sea for the next 12 hours.
Port Blair will also remain partly cloudy till next Wednesday, April 7, with the possibility of moderate rain and thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures have dropped sharply in the region since Friday, inducing a much-needed respite amid the sultry summer weather. The maximum temperature in Port Blair has remained below 29°C—three units below normal for this season.
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