the goan I network
PANAJI
Normal life was thrown out of gear, as heavy pre-monsoon showers lashed the state on Wednesday exposing state government’s unpreparedness for the monsoons with flooding and trees uprooting reported in several parts, while water-logging along major roads crippled traffic movement.
According to the Met Department, the state recorded as much as 5,4 inches of rainfall. Sanguem received a total of 6 cm rainfall, Quepem received 4 cm, Mapusa, Ponda, Sanquelim and Valpoi registered 3 cm each, Old Goa registered 2 cm, and the areas of Pernem, Canacona Margao and Mormugao received rainfall of 1cm each. The capital city of Panaji received a total of 1.36 cm of rainfall.
Speaking to The Goan, Indian Meteorological Department director, M L Sahu said the pre-monsoon phase was well underway, and would take around three to four days before monsoons actually begin.
“The Met Department had stated that the monsoon had arrived at Kerala two days ago. Before the monsoons come to Goa, it has to set in for the rest of Kerala, then Karnataka and subsequently Goa. For this to occur, it will take between three and four days,” he said.
In the meantime, Sahu cautioned that rain and thunderstorms would continue for the next two to three days. Temperatures will also see a drop, with a sharp decrease from the harsh maximum of 35 degree Celsius to 31 degree Celsius and a drop in minimum temperatures from 27 degree Celsius to 24 degree Celsius over the coming days.
Commenting on the reasons for the onset of the pre-monsoon, Sahu said the change in the weather front was not because of the cyclonic storm Mora, rather because of a pattern developing in the western region of the country.
“The weather we are seeing in Goa has nothing to do with cyclone Mora that has developed in the Bengal system. The rains we are witnessing is due to the offshore trough that runs from the south Maharashtra coast to north Kerala coast,” he said.
Goa is likely to face moderate rain to thundershowers in the days to come which may reduce from June 2 to June 4 before the onset of this year’s monsoon season.
Drishti Lifesaving has issued a public advisory cautioning locals as well as tourists not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours as sea conditions were expected to be rough with heavy showers expecting to continue.
Owing to the present weather conditions, red flags (indicating strictly non-swim zones) have been posted across all beaches under Drishti’s surveillance. During the monsoon months, the state government restricts swimming along beaches and suspends all water sports activities till September.
The Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services attended to over 60 calls from across the state on Wednesday. Most of the calls were regarding uprooted trees and fallen branches which had damaged a few houses, snapping of live electricity wires and blocked roads. The average losses sustained in case of damages to a
REIN OF RAINS
Met Department attributed Wednesday’s pre-monsoon showers to a pattern developing in the western region of the country, rather than due to the cyclonic storm Mora in Bay of Bengal
Rains in Goa are due to the offshore trough that runs from the south Maharashtra coast to north Kerala coast
Goa likely to face moderate rain to thundershowers in the days to come, which may reduce from June 2 to June 4 before the onset of this year’s monsoon season
Sharp decrease in maximum and minimum temperatures expected
