MAIN EVENTS.

Ø    Under the influence of western disturbances, isolated to fairly widespread rain/thundershowers occurred over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan during many days of the week.

Ø    The Minimum temperatures were appreciably above normal to markedly above normal over Rajasthan during many days of the week.

Ø    The maximum temperatures were appreciably above normal to markedly above normal over northeastern States and above normal to appreciably above normal over east & northwest India and Rajasthan during many days of the week.

METEOROLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Ø   Last week’s western disturbance as an upper air system over Jammu & Kashmir and neighbourhood persisted over the same region on 19^th & 20^th and moved away eastwards on 21^st. However, an induced circulation lay over central Uttar Pradesh & neighbourhood on 20^th & 21^st and became less marked on 22^nd March.

Ø   A fresh western disturbance as an upper air system lay over Afghanistan & neighbourhood on 21^st, north Pakistan & neighbourhood on 22^nd, Jammu & Kashmir & neighbourhood on 23^rd & 24^th and moved away eastwards on 25^th March..

Ø   Another western disturbance as an upper air system lay over north Pakistan & neighbourhood on 24^th & 25^th March.

Ø   Cyclonic circulation in lower levels lay over West Rajasthan on 20^th, northeast Rajasthan and neighbourhood during 21^st to 25^th March.

Ø   Last week’s cyclonic circulation in lower levels lay over Chhattisgarh & neighbourhood lay over Vidarbha and neighbourhood on 19^th, Telangana & neighbourhood on 20^th to 22^nd and became less marked on 23^rd March.

Ø   The cyclonic circulation in lower levels over south Tamil Nadu & neighbourhood lay over Kerala & neighbourhood on 19^th to 21^st, southeast Arabian Sea & neighbourhood on 22^nd and became less marked on 23^rd March. However, a trough in lower levels ran from southeast Arabian Sea to North Interior Karnataka across Coastal Karnataka on 23^rd and moved away westwards on 24^th March.

Ø   A line of north-south wind discontinuity lay over extreme south peninsula on 24^th & 25^th March.

RAINFALL

Ø   Isolated to scattered rain/thundershowers occurred over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim and Assam & Meghalaya during many days of the week and over Gangetic West Bengal and Orissa during a few days of the week. Isolated rain/thundershowers occurred over remaining parts of east & northeast India on one or two days during the week.

Ø   Isolated to fairly widespread rain/thundershowers occurred over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan during many days of the week. Isolated rain/thundershowers also occurred over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat Region and Maharashtra on one or two days during the week.

Ø   Isolated rain/thundershowers occurred over Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu & Puducherry during many days, North Interior Karnataka, Telengana and Kerala during a few days and Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal & South Interior Karnataka and Lakshadweep during one or two days of the week.

Ø    Mainly dry weather prevailed over remaining parts of the country during many days of the week.

Ø    Details of rainfall distribution/activity during the week are given in Table-1.

MINIMUM TEMPERATURE

Ø    The Minimum temperatures were appreciably above normal to markedly above normal over Rajasthan during many days of the week.

Ø    They were above normal to appreciably above normal over Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and northwest India during many days of the week.

Ø    They were above normal over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry during many days and Rayalaseema during a few days of the week.

Ø    They were above normal over Gangetic West Bengal and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura during many days of the week.

Ø    They were near normal over remaining parts of the country during many days of the week.

Ø    Details of minimum temperature distributions during the week are given in Table-2.

MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE

Ø    The Maximum temperatures were appreciably above normal to markedly above normal over northeastern states during many days of the week.

Ø    They were above normal to appreciably above normal over east & northwest India and Rajasthan during many days and over Madhya Pradesh during a few days of the week.

Ø    They were above normal over Saurastra & Kutch, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep during many days of the week.

Ø    They were near normal over remaining parts of the country during many days of the week.

Ø    Details of maximum temperature distribution during the week are given in Table-2.

Rainfall During The Week (For the week ending on 25^th March, 2009)

Rainfall was excess/normal in 11 and deficient/scanty in 22 and there was no rain in 03 out of 36 meteorological sub-divisions. (Actual: 3.6 mm, Normal: 8.8 mm and Departure: -59%).

Cumulative Seasonal Rainfall (1^st March to 25^th March, 2009)

Rainfall was excess in 07 and deficient/scanty in 27 and there was no rain in 02 out of 36 meteorological sub-divisions. (Actual: 7.3 mm, Normal: 25.5 mm and Departure: -71%).

The sub-divisionwise weekly and seasonal rainfall distribution is presented in enclosed map.

Districtwise distribution of excess, normal, deficient and scanty rainfall is shown in Table-4.

A comparative data of cumulative seasonal rainfall during the corresponding period in the last five years is given in Table-3.

Outlook For The Week Ending On 1^st April,2009

•      Two western disturbances are likely to affect western Himalayan region and adjoining northern plains causing isolated to scattered precipitation during the week.

•      Northeastern States and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim are likely to experience  scattered to fairly widespread rain/thundershowers with isolated thunder squalls during the week.

•      No significant change in maximum temperatures is likely over the plains of north India.