Heavy rain to lash catchment areas near Western Ghats

COIMBATORE: Weather experts said parts of the district near the Western Ghats were likely to record up to 150mm rainfall during July 10 to 24, thanks to the formation of a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal near Andhra Pradesh that would lead to a surge in southwest monsoon activity in the Arabian Sea. While the main city areas and agricultural belts are not likely to receive adequate rainfall, dams are expected to get replenished, resolving drinking water and even irrigation issues to an extent.
It is to be noted that the district has hardly received 5% of the predicted 210mm southwest monsoon rainfall from June 1.
Weather blogger Santhosh Krishnan said the low-pressure system was expected to pop near Andhra coast and move westwards towards the Arabian Sea.
Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet Weather Services, said, “The low-pressure system will form between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal from July 11 and it will have a pull effect in the Arabian Sea. The low-pressure system will pull the moisture bearing westerly winds from the Arabian Sea. Hence, a surge in the southwest monsoon activity is expected right from Karnataka coast up to Konkan and Goa.”
He said all places near the coast and the Western Ghats could expect moderate to heavy rain for the next two weeks.
Krishnan, meanwhile, said the catchment areas in the Western Ghats such as Siruvani, Pillur, Bhavanisagar, Sholayar and Parambikulam, among others, would receive heavy rainfall. “It is the south interior section of the Western Ghats that will receive the heaviest showers. We can expect to receive 15cm to 20cm rainfall by July end.” He said Valparai, Pollachi and western parts of the district were also expected to receive good showers.
The rain forecast has revived the hopes of farmers, who were staring at a bleak future in the absence of adequate rainfall. “In Madukkarai, we have received only drizzles so far,” said A Kandasamy, who has planted vegetables on his farmland. “We need some solid rain to replenish the groundwater levels and reduce our dependence on irrigation.”