The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a flash flood alert on Wednesday for several regions in south and central India.
The alert includes areas like Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan, Goa, Karnataka, Vidarbha, and Uttarakhand.
This warning follows heavy rainfall caused by a low-pressure area over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining Vidarbha.
India is experiencing heavy rain this monsoon season due to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) returning to a neutral phase.
The cooler La Niña phase is expected to form later in the monsoon season, around August-September.
La Niña, which happens every 3-5 years, causes sea surface cooling and can lead to increased rainfall and flooding.
Specific Areas at Risk
The IMD stated that low to moderate flash floods are likely in the next six hours in the following areas:
1) North and south Goa
2) Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri
3) Dakshin Kannada, Udupi, and Uttar Kannada
4) Chandrapur and Gadchirouli districts
Additionally, moderate flash floods are expected over the next 24 hours in:
1) Konkan and Goa
2) Coastal Karnataka and adjoining parts of south interior Karnataka
3) Uttarakhand and parts of Gujarat region, including Saurashtra and Kutch
Surface runoff or flooding may occur in fully saturated soils and low-lying areas due to the expected rainfall in the next 24 hours. The IMD had already issued a red alert for these regions earlier.
Rainfall Statistics and Forecast
In the past 24 hours, the south peninsula experienced 28% excess rainfall, while central India saw normal rainfall.
Since the start of the four-month monsoon season, these regions have received 17% above and 3% below normal rainfall, respectively.
Since June 1, India has received 305.8 mm of rain, which is 3% below average, with an 11% deficit in June.
The southwest monsoon arrived early on the Kerala coast and in northeast India but lost momentum.
It reached northwest India on time by June 29, leading to Delhi’s highest single-day June rainfall in 88 years. Mumbai experienced similar conditions.
The IMD forecasts above-normal rainfall for July, with heavy rains potentially causing floods in the western Himalayan states and river basins in central India.
