Surprise! It’s Month of March and It’s Already Raining Outside?
Mangaluru: The proverb “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”, or the shorter, trochaic version “April showers bring May flowers” are common expressions in English speaking countries. Even though it’s not April yet, we got showers in the month of March? Whatever the versions are, monsoon seemed like it came a few weeks earlier than the expected time which starts in June. Although it didn’t pour down heavily, but the rain was quite enough to dampen the soil, created some cool temperature, was a relief for plants and trees, etc etc. Usually, the pre-monsoon is expected sometime in the third week of May followed by South West monsoons in the first week of June.” Probably it rained due to Global Warming? say a few people.
Cool breeze spread a blanket of pleasant weather around bringing down the summer heat considerably. The breeze was accompanied by steady drizzle, few thunders that continued for a short time. The drizzle gave some respite from the dryness the city had endured for over last few months. Although it didn’t rain heavily, but it was enough to wet some of the items or clothes left out to dry.
After days of searing heat, Wednesday evening 14 March 2018 at around 6 pm, saw the city under a cover of clouds. The temperature during the day fell while the slightest of rain cooled down a few areas in the City. This sudden drizzle took everyone by surprise, especially the people going back home after work, who didn’t had umbrellas or any rain gear- and also the street vendors had to hide their stuff from getting wet. The street side red chilli sellers camped near KPT faced inconveniences putting back chilli in their gunny bags so that they don’t get wet.
For that matter, Rain in March is unusual. It was a blink-and-miss drizzle in most part of the city, but certain pockets recorded significant rainfall. But the drizzle was quite enough to wet few commuters and two-wheeler riders. While few ladies had folding umbrellas in their bags, they came handy for them this evening. While Kudla’s climate may indeed be changing, including under the influence of anthropogenic, global climate change, it is important to understand the nuances of City’s weather, climate and variability first. One question many citizens asked this evening was how come it rains here in March?
As expected, it rains rather rarely in March. On any given date in March, it has rained for less than 10% of the time in the last so many years. Correspondingly, the average daily rainfall quantities during the period are quite low. However, what is particularly interesting is that if one takes a look at how much rainfall has occurred on any given date in March when it did rain, the number turns out to be quite high! The adage ‘When it rains, it pours!’ seems to be particularly apt for the month of March? What kind of rain is this, which comes but rarely, but pours a lot when it does? – I bet many will ask.
Sources reveal that in all, Coastal City Mangaluru occasionally gets off-season rains from oceanic depressions in the months of February and March. While infrequent, they can contribute to significant rains in the city when they do appear. It is easy to claim that Mangaluru’s
summers are starting early and thus the summer rains are starting early as well, but the evidence for such a case remains weak. Now, will such oceanic depressions over the Indian Ocean become more frequent or more intense due the climate change? The most honest answer one can give today is ‘Maybe’.
And due to this early Monsoon rain, this evening a white foam or scum was observed on some of the roads of the city. This is because the rainwater mixes with a few months’ worth of oils, tar and rubber that have accumulated on the roads. It is possible that they make the roads more slippery than usual. But we should be all happy that at least, this rain has cooled down the temperature a bit- and if it continues for the next few hours- I bet everyone will have a cool and pleasant sleep tonight. Goodnight!