Japanese Met predicts double whammy for Indian Monsoon: India faces devastating drought

The Japanese climate agency, JAMSTEC model predictions, if they actualize doesn’t augur too well at all for the Indian monsoon.  They predict a double whammy – a combined El Nino-Indian Ocean Dipole adverse effect. If so, we may end up facing a seasonal rainfall deficiency at least within 20-30% range, if not more. Our current rainfall deficiency stands at over 45% and the month of June may end with 50% plus deficiency. If JAMSTEC is right, then July-Sept may fare no better.

 ENSO forecast: 

The developing El Niño is expected to reach its height in late boreal summer and then continue at least through the winter. After the late winter, it will evolve into an El Niño Modoki.

Indian Ocean forecast: 

The probability of a negative IOD is very high in the tropical Indian Ocean during summer and fall.

Regional forecast: 

Most part of Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia, India, and Southeastern Asia will experience a warmer-than-normal summer owing to the development of El Niño. In contrast, the Far East including Japan will experience a cooler summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, most parts of Australia and South Africa will be colder-than-normal in austral winter while most parts of Africa and South American Continent will be warmer-than-normal.

In the boreal fall, most parts of Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia, India, Southeast Asia, and Mexico will be in a warmer-than-normal condition, whereas most parts of China, eastern-central part of U.S., southeastern Canada, Korea and Japan will be in a colder-than-normal condition. The unique combination of a negative IOD in the Indian Ocean and an El Nino in the Pacific is similar to the situation in 1993, a year of record-breaking cool summer in the northeastern part of Japan. Indian sub-continent will experience a drier than normal summer monsoon season.

The Maritime Continent in Asia, Caribbean countries, and West Africa will also be in a drier-than-normal condition in the boreal summer and fall owing to the El Niño. On the other hand, wetter-than-normal condition is predicted for U.S., Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Brazil. Above normal precipitation is also expected in Japan in summer because of the active and somewhat prolonged Baiu-season. In the austral spring, the southern African region will be in a drier-than-normal condition.