Aurangabad: The onset of Monsoon in Kerala has been on time (June 1) and so far there is forecast of any obstruction to its journey into Maharashtra. The Indian Meteorological Department has also said that Maharashtra will see onset of Monsoon on time. Weather expert Dr Ramchandra Sable has forecast around 98 per cent of normal average rainfall this year. Let us understand the journey of Monsoon, where does it come from and when does it reaches different regions.
IMD has forecast that monsoon will arrive in Maharashtra on June 8. It will first reach Goa, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri. Thereafter 6 days, monsoon will cover the entire state by June 14. The journey of monsoon in Maharashtra depends on its journey in Karnataka. Given its current progress, monsoon will reach Mumbai by June 11, Nagpur June 16, Pune June 10 and Aurangabad by June 13. These dates can change if monsoon encounters any obstruction during its journey, said IMD officials.
WHAT IS MONSOON?
Rainfall in the Indian Subcontinent is called Monsoon. Wind, land and sea play important role in formation of Monsoon. Winds which normally blow from land to ocean are called continental winds which make the air dry. For some months of the year, winds blow in opposite direction - ocean to land - and are called maritime winds or jet streams.
These winds are laden with moisture. Since the Western Ghats are located close to the coast, these winds go to the mountains and result in the downpour. The jet streams that are set in the Arabian Sea split in two. One moves towards Maharashtra and the other towards West Bengal. As a result, Maharashtra receives rainfall over June to September period every year.
