Simulation of Heavy Rainfall Event over Gujarat During September 2013

Heavy rainfall events are known to occur over the Indian subcontinent during southwest monsoon season under the influence of off-shore troughs, off-shore vortices, depressions over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea and Mid-Tropospheric Cyclones (MTC). Rainfall amounts of 100–300 mm in a day at and around the weather systems along the west coast of India and other parts of the country are common during southwest monsoon season. These rainfall events are caused by organized Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) embedded in large scale synoptic systems (Benson and Rao 1987; Sikka and Gadgil 1980). Extreme rainfall events result in landslides, flash floods and damage to crops that have major impacts on the society, economy and environment. Although prediction of such extreme weather events is still fraught with uncertainties, a proper assessment of likely future trends would help in setting up infrastructure for disaster preparedness.