Author: cmptechworld56

World’s Wettest Hills Now Face Rising Drought Risk

Meghalaya’s famous rain belts are changing. Mawsynram and Cherrapunji still receive heavy monsoon downpours. Yet a new study warns that drought risk is growing there.

Climate change is reshaping the rain. Storms now pack more water into fewer days. Light rain is fading. Temperatures are climbing. As a result, the land dries out faster between bursts.

Researchers published the findings in Theoretical and Applied Climatology. They studied climate and river-flow data for Meghalaya and nearby areas from 1981 through 2100. The team found rainfall clustering into intense spells. Meanwhile, the number of wet days keeps falling. This pattern raises the chance of moderate, severe, and extreme drought. The threat looks strongest under the high-emissions SSP585 path.

Ashesh Rudra Paul and Pankaj Kumar Roy led the work. They tracked the Simple Daily Intensity Index. That measure shows average rain on a wet day. It rose by as much as 0.08 mm per day each year in some spots. At the same time, rainy days dropped by about 0.40 days per year on average.

More rain does not always ease drought. The authors noted this surprise. Concentrated storms fail to refill the ground. Meghalaya’s steep slopes and thin soils make the problem worse. Heavy rain races off the surface. Little water soaks in. Groundwater therefore stays low even after a strong monsoon.

Rising heat adds another strain. Minimum temperatures increased by up to 0.08 degrees Celsius per year. Warmer air pulls more moisture from soil and plants. Evapotranspiration speeds up. Dry spells then empty the land more quickly.

The team used the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index on a three-month scale. Drought events look set to grow more frequent and more intense. The jump appears from the near future into the far future. The largest rise occurs under SSP585, a path of fast growth and heavy fossil-fuel use.

River models tell a similar story. The researchers examined the Sari-Gowain and Surma-Meghna basins. Both draw significant water from Meghalaya. In the far future under SSP585, mean annual flow in the Sari-Gowain basin could fall by as much as 9.8 percent. The Surma-Meghna basin could drop by up to 11.6 percent. Flows would still peak in June and July. After that, levels would sink. Hydrological drought could then strike later in the year.

The study left out human pressures. Deforestation, expanding towns, land-use shifts, and extra groundwater pumping can also cut water supplies. The authors therefore urge broader planning. Managers should look beyond total rainfall. They need to weigh storm intensity, rain timing, higher temperatures, and basin-wide flows. Scientists, officials, and local communities must work together, the paper said.

People on the ground already notice the shift. Residents in Sohra and Mawsynram report that streams and waterfalls are shrinking earlier this year. Some drying appeared by mid-September. P. Hujon, who runs a guest house in Mawkisyiem, said many falls around Sohra are running low sooner than before.

Meghalaya may keep its reputation for extreme rain. Even so, hotter days, fewer wet days, and weaker recharge could leave the hills thirstier between storms.

IMD Forecasts Widespread Karnataka Rain as Bay System Strengthens

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is drawing moisture inland. The India Meteorological Department expects widespread showers across Karnataka as that system strengthens.

IMD has issued yellow alerts until September 24. The watch covers several coastal, north interior, and south interior districts. Light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning are likely in many of those areas. Isolated heavy rain is also possible.

Bengaluru may see thundershowers through the coming days. Gusty winds could reach 30 to 40 km/hr. The rain should ease recent heat. It may also cause waterlogging and slower traffic.

The statewide spell is expected to last through September 24. Residents in alert districts should watch local updates and avoid waterlogged roads during heavy bursts.

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake shook parts of Northeast India on Saturday. The National Centre for Seismology reported the event. Tremors reached Guwahati and other places in the region.

The epicentre lay about 3 km from Gyelpozhing in Bhutan. The focus was shallow, at a depth of 5 km. The quake struck at 4.01 pm.

NCS said no damage had been reported so far. Officials continue to watch the area. The eastern Himalaya is a known seismic belt, so moderate shocks are not unusual there.

Heavy Rain Floods Ahmedabad Again as Red Alerts Cover Eight Gujarat Districts

Heavy rain hit parts of Gujarat for the second time this week. The spell began on Thursday night. Streets in Ahmedabad filled with water. Roads closed. Trees came down.

The weather office put red alerts on Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Aravalli, Sabarkantha, Mahisagar, Anand, and Kheda. It also forecast moderate rain with thunderstorms through Friday afternoon.

Peak-hour traffic took the brunt in the city. Officials shut at least four underpasses after they filled with water. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation later reopened the Shahibaug underpass. Mithakhali, Usmanpura, and Akhbarnagar underpasses, which link large parts of West Ahmedabad, stayed closed.

Rain was widespread. Of 34 districts, 32 recorded an average of 8.69 mm in the previous 24 hours. Daily life slowed in several places. Some planned events were cancelled or delayed.

From Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m., 150 talukas received rain. Totals ranged from 0.04 mm to 131 mm. Maliya in Morbi district led with 131 mm. Danta in Banaskantha recorded 91 mm. Shankheshwar in Patan received 85 mm. Dwarka in Devbhumi Dwarka got 71 mm. Bechraji in Mehsana recorded 65 mm.

The season total for Gujarat now stands at 779.41 mm. That is 85.79 percent of the 30-year average. Most of the state is still short of a normal year. South Gujarat is the exception, at 112.6 percent of average. Kutch is at 57.1 percent. North Gujarat and Saurashtra are both at 66.6 percent. East-central Gujarat is at 85.7 percent. Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Devbhumi Dwarka remain among the driest districts.

Friday morning brought another burst. Between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., Meghraj taluka in Aravalli recorded 73 mm. Ahmedabad city received 70 mm. Talod in Sabarkantha and Modasa in Aravalli each logged 57 mm. Kheralu in Mehsana recorded 51 mm.

Public programmes also shifted. Viramgam MLA Hardik Patel postponed two events in his constituency: a stroke-awareness camp and a groundbreaking ceremony.

Reservoirs had already gained about 3 percent after 48 hours of rain earlier in the week. They still sat about 13 percent below last year’s levels. Officials asked residents to avoid flooded underpasses and watch for further thunderstorms through Friday.

IIT Madras Builds Framework to Measure Climate Risk on India’s Coast

Researchers at IIT Madras have built an integrated framework to study climate change along India’s coast. The tool also points to adaptation steps for infrastructure, ecosystems, and exposed communities. The Institute’s Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Adaptation Strategies led the work. The Department of Science and Technology supports the Centre.

India’s coastline holds major ports, fishing harbours, power plants, industries, and cities. These places now face stronger climate risks. Cyclones, storm surges, coastal floods, erosion, sea-level rise, and extreme rain all add pressure. Therefore, planners need linked models rather than single-hazard studies.

The Centre combines climate science, coastal engineering, water resources, and environmental engineering. Its team has built climate, cyclone, storm-surge, wave, hydrodynamic, and morphodynamic models for Indian conditions. A new wind-merging method aims to improve storm-surge forecasts. Flood inundation maps for Chennai are meant to aid disaster planning.

Coastal Vulnerability Index maps now cover Chennai, Ennore, and Karaikal. Those maps include sea-level rise and storm surge. Researchers have also proposed methods to watch climate-driven wear in port structures. Other work examines reservoir operations in flood-prone cities and ways to limit saltwater intrusion.

Water and waste systems form a second track. The team has designed climate-resilient wastewater treatment, including a patented in-stream method. It has also introduced the BASIEC framework. That tool supports community adaptation to sea-level rise and related hazards.

Prof. S. A. Sannasiraj, principal investigator and Ocean Engineering faculty member, said climate change is raising risk for coastal assets and people. He said the Centre uses a systems approach that joins climate models, engineering options, and community measures. Prof. B. S. Murty, centre coordinator and Civil Engineering faculty member, said adaptation must treat several hazards at once. He said simulations, field data, and stakeholder talks should guide coastal policy.

The research follows the chain from changing cyclones and floods to damaged infrastructure and planned responses. It mixes field measurements, lab tests, and numerical models. It also favours open-source tools and local adaptation options.

The team presented findings at the IAHR World Congress 2025 in Singapore. Springer Nature has published an edited volume on climate impacts and adaptation for coastal infrastructure, water, and waste systems. Fifteen co-principal investigators from four IIT Madras departments took part. Outputs so far include 73 journal papers, six book chapters, one edited book, 60 conference papers, and one patent.

The researchers say the work can better protect ports, harbours, power plants, and transport links. It can also improve city flood readiness, guard coastal groundwater, and support nature-based protection. Officials will still need to turn the maps and models into local action.

Southwest Monsoon Set to Withdraw from West Rajasthan Around September 19

The southwest monsoon is expected to start withdrawing from western Rajasthan around September 19. That is a few days later than the usual date of September 17. National rainfall remains about 15% below normal. More than 218 districts are facing dry conditions and stress on farm output.

Rainfall has been uneven across India. El Niño-linked patterns have left major farm regions short of moisture. South India is 28% below normal. The east and northeast are 25% below normal. The northwest is 10% short. Central India is 6% short.

Several farm states show larger gaps. Meghalaya is 59% below normal. Andhra Pradesh is 43% short. Punjab is 40% short. Bihar is 35% short. Karnataka is 29% short. With withdrawal beginning, those seasonal totals are unlikely to recover in full.

District-level stress is also high. Official contingency planning has flagged hundreds of districts with weak irrigation and large rainfall shortfalls. Among arid districts, 111 have irrigation coverage below 25% and are marked highly vulnerable. A recent weekly review listed 218 districts with acute drought signs. Those areas include parts of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab.

Kharif crops face soil-moisture stress. Paddy, maize, cotton, and pulses are among the crops at risk.

Some rain is still likely before the monsoon leaves. Isolated showers are expected in places. Jammu and Kashmir may see rain. Scattered showers are possible in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Isolated heavy rain may fall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala. Those late showers are not expected to close the seasonal deficit.

After withdrawal, heat and low groundwater may increase the need for administrative relief. Officials are watching reservoir levels and crop acreage as the season ends.

IMD Warns of Rain and Thunderstorms Across Large Parts of India on September 14

Weather will stay active across much of India on September 14. Many states are likely to see rain. Thunderstorms and lightning are also possible. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and parts of north India remain under the influence of several systems.

IMD has forecast heavy rain in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab on September 14 and 15. Parts of south India may also face strong winds of 40 to 50 kmph. Gusts could reach 60 kmph.

Several systems are driving the change. The monsoon trough is south of its normal position. A low-pressure area over southwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining north Vidarbha is moving west-northwest. An upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over south Konkan and the adjoining Arabian Sea. A western disturbance is active as well.

Delhi-NCR may stay cloudy with rain. IMD has issued a heavy-rain warning for Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad may also get showers. Some pockets could see heavy spells. Others may get only light rain. Humidity may ease. Waterlogging and traffic delays remain likely.

Uttar Pradesh may see rain and thunderstorms. Western and central districts are most exposed. Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Agra, Mathura, Prayagraj, and Varanasi may turn cloudy. Intensity will vary by city.

Bihar is likely to stay wet. Activity may increase from September 15, with heavy rain in some areas. Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Purnia, and Katihar may see changing skies. Outdoor workers should watch for lightning.

Jharkhand may remain cloudy with further rain. Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Khunti, Jamshedpur, Deoghar, Dumka, Giridih, Gumla, and Palamu are on the list. Thunder is possible. Low-lying areas could waterlog. Amounts will not be uniform.

West Bengal stays under active weather. North Bengal and areas near Sikkim may get more widespread rain. Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Kalimpong, and Siliguri may stay cloudy. Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, West Midnapore, and Bankura may also see showers.

East Rajasthan is the wetter side of that state. IMD expects heavy rain at isolated places on September 14 and 15. Jaipur, Dausa, Bharatpur, Alwar, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar may get thunderstorms. Western Rajasthan may only turn cloudy in places.

Madhya Pradesh remains in the path of the low-pressure area. Western districts may see widespread rain and thunder. Isolated heavy falls are possible. Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Dhar, Jhabua, Dewas, Khargone, Khandwa, Harda, and Narmadapuram may receive rain. Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Sagar, and Damoh could stay cloudy with showers.

Punjab and Haryana have a heavy-rain warning for both days. Gurugram, Faridabad, Rohtak, Hisar, Panipat, Karnal, Sonipat, Ambala, and Chandigarh may see rain. In Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, Firozpur, Sangrur, and Hoshiarpur may also get showers. Lightning risk remains for people outdoors.

Uttarakhand may stay wet. Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar are likely to receive rain. Thunder and lightning are forecast. Hill roads may face landslides and blockages. Himachal Pradesh may see rain in Kinnaur, Mandi, Chamba, Una, Hamirpur, Solan, Bilaspur, and Kangra.

Jammu and Kashmir may turn more active. Thunder is possible on September 14. Wider rain is expected from September 15 to 17. Jammu, Anantnag, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Reasi, Ganderbal, Udhampur, Ramban, Shopian, and Bandipora may stay cloudy. Ladakh and nearby areas could also see rain and thunder in that later window.

The Northeast is likely to remain wet. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya may get widespread rain. Some areas could see heavy showers. Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, and Silchar are on the watch list. Shillong, Cherrapunji, and Tura may stay cloudy. Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura may also receive rain. Waterlogging and landslides are possible.

South India is not dry either. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal may see thunderstorms with 40 to 50 kmph winds. Gusts may hit 60 kmph. Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tirunelveli may receive rain. Kerala is likely to see heavy showers from September 14 to 16. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana may also turn wet. Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Nellore, Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar may stay cloudy. Strong surface winds are likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Fishermen have been advised to stay off the sea along the Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts. Commuters and outdoor workers across the wet belts should plan for slick roads and lightning.

IMD Hyderabad Issues Orange Alert for Very Heavy Rain on September 13

IMD Hyderabad has forecast very heavy monsoon rain for Sunday, September 13. The department has also issued an orange alert. Thunderstorms and lightning are likely in several Telangana districts.

Weather observer T Balaji posted a separate outlook on X. He expected scattered thunderstorms from midnight to early morning. The list covered Medak, Siddipet, Kamareddy, Sircilla, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Nizamabad, Hanumakonda, Warangal, Rangareddy, Yadadri-Bhongir, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Nalgonda, Adilabad, and Asifabad. Hyderabad city was included as well.

The southwest monsoon is still running below normal in the state. Telangana has received 519.1 mm of rain so far. The seasonal normal is 649.9 mm. That leaves a deficit of 20 percent.

Hanumakonda has the steepest shortfall. The district has recorded 378.2 mm against a normal of 714.1 mm. The gap stands at 47 percent. Warangal, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jangaon, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Jogulamba Gadwal, and Khammam have also logged deficits above 30 percent.

Hyderabad itself remains behind its seasonal mark. The city has received 393.8 mm. Its normal is 535.6 mm.

Saturday already brought heavy rain to parts of the state. Telangana Development Planning Society data put the highest total at 191.3 mm in Mahabubabad. In Hyderabad, Tirumalagiri recorded 35.5 mm.

Officials have asked residents to plan travel with care. Wet roads and lightning can disrupt movement. More showers may follow under the orange alert.

Deep Magnitude-6.2 Quake Hits off Northwest Jakarta; No Immediate Damage Reported

A strong earthquake struck near Java early on Saturday, 12 September. The shock began far below the surface. That depth set it apart from the shallow quakes that often wreck towns in Indonesia.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) timed the event at 2:53 am IST. The epicentre lay at sea, about 49 kilometres northwest of Jakarta. Depth was 376 kilometres. Germany’s GFZ put the magnitude at 6.2. There were no immediate reports of deaths or damage.

Shaking was felt across parts of Java, including Jakarta and areas of West Java. Parts of Sumatra also reported the tremor.

The depth explains the type of quake. At 376 kilometres, it is a deep-focus event. Most earthquakes break in the upper crust. Some break much deeper, inside a slab of plate that has been forced into the mantle. Indonesia sits where several plates meet. South of Java, the Indo-Australian Plate sinks beneath the Eurasian Plate. That process is subduction. Stress builds inside the descending slab. Rock then fractures or slips. Seismic waves radiate outward.

Depth also changes the danger at the surface. A shallow quake can throw sharp motion straight into nearby buildings. Waves from hundreds of kilometres down must cross a thick stack of rock first. Energy spreads over a wider area before it arrives. Deep quakes are not harmless. They often shake a broader region more evenly than a similar-size shock near the surface.

A tsunami was unlikely. Tsunamis usually need a large, sudden shove of the seafloor. An earthquake hundreds of kilometres below the seabed rarely produces that shove.

Indonesia will keep recording both shallow and deep events. This one shows the difference. Magnitude alone does not fix the risk. Depth and mechanism decide how the ground moves, and whether the sea can rise.