Pre-Monsoon Showers Over Kerala: Tamil Nadu Remains Safe
Key Takeaways:
- Pre-monsoon activity has begun early over Kerala and parts of South India.
- Wind discontinuity and embedded cyclonic circulation are driving the showers.
- Rainfall will largely remain confined to Kerala; Tamil Nadu north coast may stay mostly dry.
- Chennai will see no rain threat for the T-20 Super-8 match, though humidity and dew may influence play.
Pre-Monsoon has knocked at the South Peninsula, a little earlier than scheduled. The state of Kerala has been experiencing frequent showers, more so close to the coastline. The south coast and interiors of Tamil Nadu have also received unscripted showers, lower in intensity and scattered in spread. These showers will become more organized in the days to come, especially after the first week of March.
The main trigger behind this activity is the north-south oriented wind discontinuity over the interiors of the South Peninsula. This feature develops as part of the heat differential between the coastline on either side and the hot landmass in the center. Subject to the availability of moisture and heat, pre-monsoon thunderstorms gain strength across the region.
The wind discontinuity is seen extending from Vidarbha to the southern tip of India, running across North Interior Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and the divider between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There is an embedded cyclonic circulation over North Karnataka and neighbourhood. The wind discontinuity has been displaced to the east. In addition, a small vortex over the Southeast Arabian Sea in the lower levels is aiding the trough for weather activity over Kerala. In the current scenario, the showers will remain confined to Kerala and may spare most parts of Tamil Nadu and, more importantly, the north coast of the state.
The capital city Chennai is the only venue for T-20 World Cup Super-8 matches in South India. Today’s match at Chidambaram Stadium becomes crucial for India to stay in the race. Weather conditions play a major role, and India needs a decisive victory with a decent margin. There is no interruption likely on account of weather. No thunderstorm, no rain/shower is likely, and suitable windy conditions will prevail. An increase in humidity levels during the evening/night could be a concern for dew formation on the ground. Sultry and sticky conditions will be a significant factor for the match.
