Monsoon to complete its withdrawal today

It now covers only a small portion of Odisha, some parts of northeast India, and southern Maharashtra. The normal date for its withdrawal from the entire country is October 15.

The monsoon withdrew from most parts of the country on Thursday, largely sticking to its usual schedule despite a late start to the withdrawal.

The monsoon started withdrawing very late this year, on October 6 against the normal date of September 17, but then withdrew rapidly from different parts of the country, according to scientists.  (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

It now covers only a small portion of Odisha, some parts of northeast India, and southern Maharashtra. The normal date for its withdrawal from the entire country is October 15.

The monsoon started withdrawing very late this year, on October 6 against the normal date of September 17, but then withdrew rapidly from different parts of the country, according to scientists.

“We can say the monsoon’s withdrawal is complete when the withdrawal line reaches 15 degree latitude. We are close to that line. Very small portions of Goa, Maharashtra and the North-East are left. Two low pressure areas have developed over Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal which will bring rain to parts of central and east India but that cannot be categorised as monsoon rain,” said K Sathi Devi, head, national weather forecasting centre.

With the withdrawal of the monsoon, the northern plains get ready for the onset of winter, although, in recent years, this has also meant an increase in air pollution.

And when the rain stops, he added, minimum temperatures are likely to drop over northwest India even as the northeast monsoon sets in over peninsular India. “We can expect pollution levels to increase over northwest India when wind direction changes to northwesterly once again October 18 onwards,” Palawat added.