Timely Arrival of Northeast Monsoon Highlights Urban Flooding and Agricultural Challenges
The Northeast Monsoon arrived on October 16, slightly ahead of its normal date, bringing relief to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the southern peninsula. While vital for agriculture, the season poses risks of cyclonic disturbances and cloudbursts, which have become more frequent according to recent studies. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts 'above normal' rainfall this year. Urban flooding remains a critical threat, particularly in Chennai, prompting the state to implement real-time flood forecasting systems. Additionally, a shortage of fertilizers like urea is currently bothering agriculturists, requiring urgent intervention from the Union Ministry of Agriculture to meet seasonal demand.
Key Points
- The Northeast Monsoon accounts for 48% of Tamil Nadu's and over 30% of Andhra Pradesh's annual rainfall.
- Climate change has increased the frequency of cloudbursts and cyclonic disturbances in the Bay of Bengal region.
- Tamil Nadu is deploying a real-time flood forecasting system to calibrate reservoir discharges and mitigate urban flooding.
- A shortage of urea fertilizer is a major concern for farmers in rain-dependent states during this monsoon season.
Exam Facts
- Normal onset date for the Northeast Monsoon: October 20.
- IMD forecast for the 2025 season: 112% of the long period average (LPA).
- Urea demand for October was reported at 36.65 lakh tonnes.
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