Pacific typhoons may hit depression

Hyderabad: Northern Telangana and north coastal Andhra Pradesh will get heavy rainfall if the depression system, which is currently positioned over the Bay of Bengal, moves inwards towards central India. However, there has been a lack of movement in the depression, thus thwarting meteorological predictions of rain in these regions.

Meteorologists think the depression could be standing still under the influence of typhoons in the Pacific Ocean. Experts say that typhoons in the Pacific area pull out a lot of moisture from the depression and monsoon systems here. Already, two strong typhoons have formed in the Pacific and two more are in the process of formation.

Depressions are common during the monsoon season. Already, about five depressions have formed in the region since the beginning of June, but none of them could bring heavy rainfall. The latest depression over Bay of Bengal has not moved yet. However, if it moves inwards, it is expected to bring heavy rainfall in northern Telangana and north coastal AP.

“The depression is lying still. We expect it to move. Once it does, it will bring rainfall over the next two to three days till it crosses Madhya Pradesh,” said Dr K. Seetha Ram, head of Flood Meteorology, Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad.

Scientists are puzzled as the system should have moved nearly two days ago. “Conditions are favourable for the depression to move inland, but it is lying still. We think the systems in the Pacific

Ocean might be holding it back. Typhoons near South China Sea and the Philippines pull out a lot of moisture,” Dr Seetha Ram opined.