After the rains, cool weather in March!

After the rains on March 1, Goa is experiencing some cool weather due to the cold winds blowing from N and NW.

Mornings have been below 20C from March 3, nearly 4C below normal for this time of the year. Minimum of 17.7C recorded at Panjim on March 4, is the lowest after 16C recorded on Jan 14 this year. No wonder Goans are shivering!

Day's highs have remained around 30C and it feels pleasant even under the sunny clear skies in the afternoon.

The interiors of Goa, in places like Valpoi, Pernem, Canacona minimum temperatures around 15C have been reported.

The morning temperatures are now climbing and summer is expected to bear down upon us by second week of March!

So enjoy the cool weather while it lasts!
 

March 2, 2015 Update - Rains recede

The rains in Goa under the influence of the current weather system in Central Arabian Sea, which began with thunderstorm in the early hours of March 1, and which were covered in this post, continued to provide isolated rains in many parts of Goa particularly on 1st evening. The maximum Day temperature recorded at Panaji on March 1, came down to 30.6C compared to 32.3C on Feb 28!

Following rainfall amounts were recorded by various IMD rain centres across Goa:

However resumption of NW and W winds heralds sunny and clear skies over Goa, again from March 2 onwards as seen in the IR satellite image below

Will the summer onset be far behind now?

Heavy Rains Lash Goa on March 1, 2015!

Goa was lashed by thunderstorm in the early morning hours of March 1, 2015! Rain accompanied by thunder and lightening was reported from all the areas in Goa. It led to collapse of Electriacl supply from Maharashtra Grid supply plunging Goa into total darkness!

Vagaries Goa rain Gauge at Margao recorded 49 mm (2 inches) of rainfall between 0315 hrs to 0600 hrs.

As per IMD Meteorological Analysis from their website http://www.imd.gov.in

♦ The Western Disturbance as an upper air cyclonic circulation over Afghanistan & adjoining Pakistan extending upto 3.1 km above mean sea level persists with a trough aloft roughly along Longitude 63.0°E and north of Latitude 15.0°N. Due to deepening of the westerly trough into central Arabian sea, wind confluence is continuing over central India and neighbourhood.

♦ The induced upper air cyclonic circulation over south Rajasthan & adjoining Gujarat extending upto 2.1 km above mean sea level persists.

♦ The upper air trough from Bihar to south Chhattisgarh has become less marked, however an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over north Chhattisgarh & adjoining East Madhya Pradesh and extends upto 1.5 km above mean sea level.

♦ The upper air cyclonic circulation over Comorin area and adjoining Srilanka has become less marked.

 

Under The influence of these factors Goa along with North Konkan, Mumbai, Saurashtra, Kutch and Central Maharashtra was expected to receive rainfall from February 28 continuing to March 1 and 2.

 

 

The 850 hPa Wind chart on the left clearly indicates the SW winds lashing Goa and N Konkan under the influence of the westerly trough, and extending into Central Maharashtra. The satellite image on the right shows a massive thunderstorm approaching Goa around midnight of February 28.

Till 0830 hrs on March 1, by which time rains had almost stopped, Ponda recorded the maximum rainfall of 54 mm. The rainfall for the other centres are as below:

Morning over Goa was partly overcast and rainfall is expected at a few places on March 1 evening and at isolated places on March 2, before retreating!

Overcast Skies at Margao at 1000 hrs, March 1, 2015