Date:02/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100261471200.htm

National

North-east monsoon delayed

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Declaring the “official” end of the south-west monsoon, the Director General of India Meteorological Department, Ajit Tyagi, said even as the monsoon has started withdrawing from north India, the process was expected to be completed leading to the onset of the north-east monsoon only by the third week of this month.

The south-west monsoon starts withdrawing from the extreme parts of west Rajasthan and the normal date for the commencement of withdrawal is September 1. But, this year it started on September 29.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Tyagi ascribed the delay to the presence of systems in westerlies over northwest India interacting with the monsoon circulation. Last year too, the withdrawal was delayed.