The monsoon will arrive early in India this year, the national weather office said, bringing hopes of a much-needed respite from a record-breaking heatwave.
“We have a prediction for monsoon advance over Andaman [and Nicobar] islands and Kerala which will be around May 27,” India Meteorological Department director general Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told The National.
"As monsoon advances, temperature will definitely decrease in other parts of the country.
“We don’t have the exact dates for other parts as of now. Once monsoon advances over Kerala we will have a forecast, but monsoon is early this year.”
The weather bureau has predicted that the first showers were likely to hit the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at the southern edge of Bay of Bengal, around May 15 — about a week before the usual onset of the rainy season.
“Fairly widespread to widespread, light to moderate rainfall is very likely over Andaman and Nicobar islands during the next five days. Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over the region from May 14 to 16,” the bureau said on Thursday.
It said winds of up to 60kph were also likely in the area. Rain is expected in parts of Kerala state in south-west India and the Lakshadweep archipelago in the Arabian Sea from May 26 to 27.
The monsoon enters India's mainland from Kerala, which receives rain from about June 1, but the weather office has predicted its arrival a week early due to Cyclone Asani.
The severe storm raged for nearly a week in the Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea before it was concentrated into a depression on May 12.
“We are expecting monsoon to reach Kerala coast by May 26 and pre-monsoon in mainland India by the fag-end of May and early June,” Mahesh Palawat, vice president of private forecaster Skymet Weather, told The National.
"Usually the monsoon touches Kerala around June 1 but this year it is expected early. The cyclonic activity has strengthened the cross-equatorial flow of southwestern events helping early onset of monsoons."
The monsoon system then gradually moves north-west, covering the entire subcontinent over the next three months. The country receives about 75 per cent of its rainfall during this period.
Rainfall's huge impact on economy
India’s agriculture depends heavily on the monsoon as it irrigates more than half of the crop-growing areas. The amount of rainfall determines agricultural output and the country's economy and trade.
The news of early monsoon has come as a massive relief for northern, north-western and eastern states that have been reeling under a severe spell of heatwave.
The temperature in several parts of the capital Delhi reached 44°C to 45°C on Thursday, while at least 29 cities across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh recorded temperatures above 44°C. Barmer in Rajasthan recorded 48°C.
Many regions in the country are experiencing severe power cuts and water scarcity, making it more difficult for residents to cope with the heat.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Barbie
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)
Russia 0
Frida%20
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
