Synoptic study of extremely heavy rainfall events over lower Yamuna catchment: Some cases

Abstract

Extreme rainfall results in landslides, flash flood and crop damage that have major impact on society, the economy and the environment. During southwest monsoon season, flood mostly occurs in India due to extremely or very heavy rain that originates from environmental and synoptic conditions. An attempt has been made to identify the main synoptic reasons, which are responsible for extremely heavy rainfall events over Lower Yamuna catchment (LYC) through the analysis of the relationship between this rainfall and atmospheric systems for the period 1998-2010 based on modern observational technology and developed forecasting technique in the field of short range prediction. The finding of this study show that the major factor have is the arrival of Bay of Bengal low pressure systems in this region, of course if the ascent local conditions such as heat occur, causing the heaviest rains there. The low pressure systems (LPS like, Cyclone, depression, low pressure area etc.) developed generally over Bay of Bengal moved in west to north-westwards direction and reached over the LYC region. Also LPS may be formed in situ under the influence of upper air cyclonic circulation (cycir) responsible for such events. Such system yield extremely heavy rainfall events (generally in the south-west sector of the system) at isolated places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and there by caused flood situation. The possibility of occurrence of such type of rainfall would be higher if the LPS is either stagnate or slow over LYC region. The NWP products of RSMC (IMD) New Delhi forecast contours / wind charts for 72, 48 & 24 hrs were found good tool for accurate forecast position of the movement of the LPS. Such information certainly facilitate to forecaster in prediction of extreme rainfall events more accurately so that district authorities may set up necessary infrastructures for disaster preparedness in time.