April 23, 2015 - Thunderstorm in Margao

With maximum day temperatures around 35C and Humidity above 80%RH from April 21, isolated  rainfall was experienced in many parts of Goa, particularly late in the evening. The weather has generally remained hot and sultry due to overcast conditions. Cumulus clouds have made their presence felt this week and a thunderstorm was waiting to happen. Particularly because, rains due to wind discontinuity has been widespread east of the Ghats stretching from Interior Maharashtra, Karnatak and into Kerala.

Clouds streaming into Goa from the East around noon on April 21, 2015

However on April 23 late evening, a thunderstorm developed across the Ghats in South Goa and by 9.40 pm heavy rains started lashing Margao, accompanied by Lightening and thunder.

Thunderstorm seen building over South Goa at 21:30 hrs on April 23, 2015

In the next 75 minutes Vagaries Goa Rain Gauge at Aquem, Margao recorded 53 mm (2 inches) rainfall. IMD's Rain Gauge Center in Margao recorded 51.4 mm during the same period. This was heaviest rainfall recorded in Margao since March 1 this year, and the first pre monsoon shower of this year.

IMD's rain centres at Sanguem recorded 23.1 mm and at Canacona 20.6 mm. Panjim recorded only 1.8 mm. Most other places in Goa received only a drizzle or no rainfall, indicating that this thunderstorm was localised to a few place in South Goa, mainly Margao.

Rainfall recorded in 24 hrs ending 0830 hrs April 24, 2015 (Source IMD)

The rains brought down the minimum temperature on April 24 to 25.4C from 28.2C recorded on April 23.

Overcast, hot and humid conditions with occasional isolated showers or thunderstorms are forecast for Goa over the next 4 days. 

April '15 Second Half - Summer conditions setting in

Since around 16th of April summer heat wave conditions have started to set in North West India, East and South East Pakistan and Rajasthan and Gujarat.

As predicted by the well known Indian weather Blogger Rajesh Kapadia in his post http://www.vagaries.in/2015/04/ posted-friday-17th-night-heat-to.html, hottest in Asia on Sunday was Larkana Pakistan at 48°C and hottest in India were Kandla 44.6c, Jaisalmer 44.5c, Rajkot 43.6c, Barmer 43.4c, Bikaner 43.3c, Ahmadabad and Wardha 43.0c, Nagpur 42.8c and Bhopal 42.7c, Raipur 41.4c.

The Accurate Weather website also carries a report at  http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/india-new-delhi-pakistan-warmt/45776643 predicting rise in temperatures across most North Indian cities by upto 8C.

These developments are normal during this time of the year and are essential for on time onset of Monsoon across India.

Goa too has not escaped these conditions and sultry conditions with rising minimum temperatures with high humidity have been experienced since 16th April. The minimum temperature touched 27.4C on April 20th, fiirst time since March 18th this year. In fact after a little respite from heat in the first half of April with lower minimum temperatures and cool breeze from the west during daytime, March end like conditions are back in Goa. However the westerlies which start blowing from around noon have managed to keep the max temperatures around 34C so far.

Last few days also saw cloudy conditions in the evening with isolated rains in some parts of Goa, particularly in the interiors.

These sultry conditions are expected to continue with mostly dry weather over the next few days.

March 2015 Weather Summary - A Roller Coaster Ride!

Month of March 2015 saw it all - Thunder Storms with rains, followed by cool morning and then Hot days and to end the month - cloudy, hot and humid mornings too!

March 1 saw heavy rains throughout the state due to the trough associated with the Western Disturbance advancing from Afghanistan and Pakistan as explained in THIS post.

Vagaries Goa Rain Gauge at Margao recorded 49 mm on March 1 and 2 mm on March 2, bringing the total rainfall in March to a record 51 mm. Ponda (IMD) recorded the highest at 64.2 mm. Again ligh scattered rainfall was recorded in many parts of Goa around 26th March.

This made March 2015 one of the wettest months in the records maintained by IMD, Goa.

These rains on March 1 and 2 brought down the temperatures considerably, and for a few days the day temperatures touched max 31C and early mornings were pleasant at below 20C! But then the heat and the humidity took charge and lows climbed steadily till they were around 27C towards end March, highs remained steady at around 34C.

March heat is now matching the October heat!!

The following Charts give a picture of the temperature trends:

Feels like the summer truly set in March itself and we can expect this trend to continue in April and May.