The highest rainfall during the northeast monsoon was during the night.
What’s it about? Meteorologists tracking the northeast monsoon noted that the highest rainfall is between midnight and 6 am and reduces during the day. It was recorded at the four coastal meteorological stations at Nungambakkam, Meenambakkam, Pamban, and Nagapattinam over the past five years.
- It’s due to the proximity of four weather systems to the ocean where convective activity peaks at night. It’s also due to low temperatures in the lower atmosphere and high saturation over the coast.
- Compared to the southwest monsoon, the rainfall peaks in the evening. Daily variations in the monsoon rain are strong in Pamban compared to the other three stations.
Researchers speak: Meteorologist YEA Raj said the land cools and the land breeze intensifies in November and December in the early morning hours. This masks the incoming easterly winds and reduces rainfall in the morning. It doesn’t apply to a weather system that will bring rain based on its intensity and movement.