Monsoon on the move to Andamans

There is a marked progress in the movement of the Asian monsoon. In neighbouring Thailand, there are scattered thundershowers at different places, including 40pc to 70pc of the sea area. Southwesterly winds are moving at a speed of 10 to 30 km/hr. In Malaysia, there are isolated thundershowers and southwesterly winds are moving at a speed of 10 to 20 km/hr in north of the Straits of Malacca and peninsular Malaysia. Likely increase in speed of southwesterly winds will facilitate quicker entry of monsoons in Andamans.

S-W monsoon is now persisting over southern China. Tropical depression, called Crising, has moved to northeast of Mindanao, ‘‘bringing unsettled weather to the seas east of The Philippines’’.

Before touching mainland India, the S-W monsoon enters Andaman seas around May 26. It’s normal base date for touching Kerala coast is June 1. But as per historical data for past 100 years, there has been some years of deviation when the monsoon has entered northeast India earlier than in Kerala. Early advancement of monsoon over Myanmar determines its quicker advancement in northeast India. So far, in the current season, there is no much marked advancement of monsoon over Myanmar.

S-W monsoon is part of the Asian monsoon system. Advancement of the monsoon in the entire system depends upon the speed of the southwesterly winds. The Hong Kong Observatory has noted: ‘‘The south-west monsoon now persists over southern China. On the other hand, a low pressure area is bringing unsettled weather to the seas east of The Philippines.’’

In contrast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said on Monday that the tropical depression, called Crising, has moved to northeast of Mindanao. The Thai Meteorological Department has said that the country is enjoying scattered thundershowers at different places and southwesterly winds are moving at a speed of 10 to 30 km/hr. Heavy rains are predicted in Bangkok Metropolis and Phuket. Similarly, the Malaysian Meteorological Services has also recorded southwesterly wind speed at 10 to 20 km/hr in the north of the Straits of Malacca and peninsular Malaysia. There are scattered to isolated thundershowers in different parts of Malaysia.