'El Nino' threat looms over monsoon season

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will announce on April 15 whether the rains will be delayed, will the state receive more or less rain, amid fears of an El Nino threat to the southwest monsoon. El Nino is a phenomenon of warming of the sea floor.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an international oceanographic research organization, has issued an El Nino warning.

The temperature of the seabed in the Pacific Ocean from Australia to India is a factor in determining the strength of the southwest monsoon.

75% of India's annual rainfall is received in monsoons. In Kerala, 80 percent of the water stored in dams for power generation comes from the monsoons. Low rainfall during monsoons will adversely affect agriculture, power generation and the economy.

Currently, the temperature in the Indian Ocean is a relief. But NOAA warns that the El Nino phenomenon, which is supposed to occur in July, may be early this time and it will affect the monsoon. If El Nino occurs, it will affect the course and nature of the wind from the sea. It is feared that this will lead to less rainfall. El Nino occurred in the years 2009, 2014 and 2015. The monsoon was weak in those years.

In the current situation, Indian scientists are rejecting the possibility of El Nino. It is assumed that this year's monsoon rains will be strong and there is a possibility of heavy rains similar to 2018 in Kerala. Monsoon will reach Kerala in the first week of June, according to the foreign private weather organization Accuweather. The European agency points out that due to the Indian Ocean dipole, a temperature-related phenomenon in the Indian Ocean, the state will get more rain this time of year.

Summer rain for three more days

Summer rain will continue in the state for three more days and will weaken by Tuesday. Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta districts are forecast to witness isolated heavy thundershowers.