Meteorological conditions associated with extremely heavy rainfall over some Indian states in July 2022

The second week of July 2022 witnessed persistent heavy rainfall episodes over the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and coastal Karnataka. According to media reports, this led to localized flooding over these regions. Rainfall data from the India Meteorological Department revealed that heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places had occurred over Gujarat region for five days; over Saurashtra and Kutch, Konkan and Goa, Telangana and coastal Karnataka for three days each, and over Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha for two days each during 7–13 July 2022. The present study aimed to evaluate the meteorological parameters, associated synoptic systems, and dynamic and thermodynamic parameters responsible for such persistent heavy rainfall episodes over these regions during the second week of July. The following meteorological conditions may have resulted in persistent heavy-rainfall episodes: (i) Location of monsoon trough (south of the normal position). (ii) An offshore trough along the west coast of India during the study period. (iii) An east–west shear zone/trough in the lower/mid tropospheric levels across the northern parts of peninsular India and southward tilt. (iv) Convergence of strong monsoon westerlies along the west coast of India. (v) Favourable relative vorticity up to middle tropospheric levels. (vi) Favourable low-level convergence and upper-level divergence. Favourable air temperature and vertical velocity (omega) at different tropospheric levels. (vii) Favourable relative humidity profile at the lower tropospheric levels