Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

Thailand, Neighboring Areas In SE Asia Drying Down

Kansas City, June 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Outside of southern Thailand, north-central Myanmar and parts of Cambodia, rainfall in recent weeks was enough to bolster soil moisture for mainland Southeast Asia. Planting and establishment conditions have been relatively favorable so far this season outside the driest pockets in southern Thailand. Many areas in Thailand and several neighboring areas in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are experiencing drier than usual conditions and this will prevail for at least the next ten days. Periods of spotty rain will still occur, though dryness will intensify and potentially expand in southern Thailand and neighboring locations. Establishment and early-season development conditions may slow for the rice, corn, sugarcane, and other crops. Drier-biased conditions may persist into the last few days of June across mainland Southeast Asia, which could further impact development rates.

India’s Monsoon Pace Will Remain Sluggish In Coming Week

Kansas City, June 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Early-season monsoonal rain remains below normal for a large section of India. Precipitation has been sluggish primarily due to the Madden-Julian Oscillation, which has been making its way across the Western Hemisphere and Africa since early this month. This position of the MJO tends to suppress convection in India and neighboring locations, leading to lower than usual rainfall. Planting and general fieldwork have likely advanced swiftly due to the lack of abundant rain. However, the need for significant rain is growing across the subcontinent to support better establishment and long-term development. Drier-than-usual weather will prevail for at least another seven days despite the MJO diminishing. Rain will still occur, most notably in the south and far east. Precipitation potentials will likely increase during the last few days of June and early July as long as the MJO event ends as advertised.

Tropical Storm Arthur’s Rain To Threaten Low-Lying Crops

Kansas City, June 17 (World Weather Inc.) – A very disorganized tropical weather system near the Texas coast has been named Tropical Storm Arthur by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm is mostly a big rain event and it has already produced some significant rain this week while over northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. The system has been over open water southeast of the Texas coast long enough to acquire more tropical moisture and develop a little better circulation resulting in the tropical storm declaration. Arthur is not likely to strengthen much more before it moves back over land near the Houston and Port Arthur areas of Texas this evening and overnight. The system will then move through Louisiana before dissipating. In the wake of all this will be some impressive rainfall that will induce flooding of low-lying areas which may induce some property, crop and infrastructure damage from Louisiana to western Georgia the next few days.