The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall across parts of South India. The IMD has stated that isolated heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over this region starting from November 7 onwards.
The forecast also indicates a cyclonic circulation over South Tamil Nadu and nearby regions, which is expected to move west-northwestwards towards the southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea over the next three days. A pressure area is likely to form over the east-central Arabian Sea around November 8, 2023, under the influence of a cyclonic circulation lying over the Southeast Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast.
The onset of the Northeast Monsoon has intensified in Southern India, resulting in heavy to very heavy rainfall. This monsoon, also known as the winter monsoon, typically occurs between October and December and is primarily confined to the Southern peninsula. Earlier, on November 4, several districts in Tamil Nadu experienced heavy downpours, leading to the closure of schools in nine districts due to the incessant rains.
Additionally, a fresh western disturbance will influence North India, which is likely to bring light rainfall and snowfall to isolated areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, west Rajasthan and Punjab starting from November 7 onward.
However, no significant weather changes are expected in the rest of the country during the next five days.
Odisha to witness cold
Odisha is likely to witness cold conditions as the Regional Meteorological Centre here on Monday forecast a drop of night temperature by 3-4 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours. There will be no large change in minimum temperature (night temperature) during the next 24 hours and it will gradually fall by 3-4 degrees Celsius in the next 2 to 3 days at many places over the districts of Odisha, the MeT office said in its mid-day bulletin.
Delhi air pollution
Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR were recorded around seven to eight times above the government-prescribed safe limit, on Monday as a toxic haze persisted over the region for the seventh consecutive day.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), conditions favorable for the dispersion of pollutants are likely to develop Tuesday night onwards under the influence of an upcoming western disturbance, and unseasonal rainfall is expected in northwest India after which the air quality of Delhi is likely to improve.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Monday that the odd-even car rationing scheme will be enforced in Delhi from November 13 to 20 as a measure to combat air pollution. Rai also said that to safeguard the health of school children, the government has decided to suspend in-person classes in all schools, except for students in grades X and XII preparing for board exams.