El Nino scare: India to suffer the most from droughts?

'El Nino' is the term associated with extreme weather system causing droughts, floods, blizzards and tropical storms around the world. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the time has come for "a proper El Nino" and it is likely to affect India the most, reports the Independent. 

The condition was widely expected with reference to the temperatures around the globe last summer. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has also clarified that the surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific have exceeded El Nino thresholds and waters have been warmer below the surface. 

An El Nino occurs once in every 2-7 year span and it is adverse effects will depend on the geographical location. The Independent states that India will suffer badly as the tropical monsoon is forecasted to be poorer by two to three times. As a result, there will be a considerable decrease in crop production affecting food prices all over the nation. 

Indonesia and Australia are also predicted to be victims of the adverse effects of the climatic condition.

Monsoon will arrive on time 

In contrast to it, India's Meteorological Department (IMD) have assured that the South-West monsoon will hit the country on time denying any effects of El Nino.

"It is too early to predict the exact date of monsoon hitting the state. If the meteorological systems and other conditions remain favourable, we are expecting monsoon to reach Odisha in the second week of June, which is its usual time," said director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre S C Sahu. 

Odisha and Kerala - the states that welcome monsoons to India will get rain as usual, Sahu said. 

"Rainfall in Odisha has been normal even in the El Nino years, except 2002 and 2004. In 2006, despite El Nino, the state received 35% more rain than normal," he added. 

Monsoon wind direction (Image: imd.gov.in)

However, Dehradun's IMD suspects a below-average monsoon and the state has instructed all district collectors to make contingency plans for the Kharif season, reports Times of India.

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