Skymet Podcast

In this episode of the Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains the science behind the Polar Vortex in clear and simple terms.The Polar Vortex is a powerful circulation of extremely cold air and low pressure that typically remains confined over the North and South Poles. However, when this system weakens or becomes unstable, cold air can spill southwards—triggering sudden cold waves, snowfall, and extreme winter conditions across Canada, the United States, Europe, and at times North India.'The episode explores the role of the jet stream, atmospheric layers, and global warming in influencing the behaviour of the Polar Vortex. With ongoing climate change, the vortex is becoming increasingly irregular and unpredictable, making winter weather more volatile across the globe.

In this episode of the Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, breaks down the evolving La Niña scenario and its implications for India’s weather.El Niño and La Niña are key global climate drivers that influence weather patterns across the world, including India. In recent years, their impacts have shown noticeable shifts from historical trends. According to current assessments, the upcoming La Niña is expected to be weak and short-lived, active mainly between December and February.This could result in slightly below-normal temperatures over North India, with brief cold-wave–like conditions at times, though the likelihood of extreme cold or severe weather remains low. Rainfall during the season is likely to be normal or marginally above normal.The episode also explains how changes in sea surface temperatures, driven by El Niño and La Niña, interact with global warming and influence India’s monsoon behaviour.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, discusses in detail the formation and trajectory of the upcoming Cyclonic Storm “Montha (or Maantha)” over the Arabian Sea. The system is expected to develop as a low-pressure area around October 18–19 over the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep region, gradually intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm. While the storm is unlikely to make landfall along the Indian coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, or Gujarat, it may bring strong winds and light to moderate rainfall to these coastal areas. The Sokotra Islands, Somalia, and Yemen coasts are likely to experience more severe impacts. The episode also touches on the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon and the onset of the Northeast Monsoon, both expected to occur on the same day — October 16, marking a rare meteorological event.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains why the 2025 monsoon season has been unlike any other and how it will influence the coming months. The season, spanning June 1 to September 30, ended at 108% of the Long Period Average (LPA) — a remarkable record in recent decades. He discusses how El Niño, La Niña, and neutral conditions shaped the monsoon this year, leading to rainfall deficits in Bihar and East Uttar Pradesh, while Marathwada and Rayalaseema saw late recovery. The episode also delves into the declining rainfall trend in Northeast India, the impact of a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and expert insights on the regional distribution of rainfall across the country.

Our 50th episode marks not just a milestone, but the beginning of a new wave of conversations—diving deeper into the science, technology, and progress shaping our future.In this special edition, Skymet CTO Vivek Singh is joined by Dr. Kenji Takeda, Director of Research Incubation at Microsoft Research, to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming weather and climate forecasting.At the center of this discussion is Aurora, Microsoft’s cutting-edge AI model. Aurora can do what traditional forecasting systems struggle with—running multiple tasks simultaneously. From rapid weather predictions and storm/cyclone warnings to air quality monitoring and climate change analysis, Aurora brings both speed and unmatched accuracy, especially for extreme weather events.Dr. Takeda explains how Aurora reduces reliance on supercomputers, democratizing weather forecasting and putting advanced insights into the hands of researchers, policymakers, and communities worldwide.Join us as we celebrate 50 episodes and step into this next chapter—where AI bridges science and society, helping us prepare for disasters, adapt to climate change, and understand our environment in ways never possible before.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains the current status of Monsoon 2025’s onset and withdrawal. While pan-India rainfall has been near normal this year, predicting the exact date of withdrawal remains tricky due to subjective conditions such as moisture decline, satellite imagery, anticyclones, and circulation patterns. Official withdrawal begins from western Rajasthan and often stretches from late September into October. According to Skymet, revisions in withdrawal dates are likely this year too. The episode also discusses the latest rainfall situation and forecasts for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the Konkan-Goa region. Will the monsoon follow its normal withdrawal pattern this time, or will climate change and global warming play a bigger role? Tune in to find out.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains how global oceanic factors are influencing the progress of Monsoon 2025. The Niño 3.4 index over the Pacific is currently at -0.4, pointing towards a developing La Niña phase which is considered favorable for the Indian monsoon. On the other hand, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is highly negative at -1.2—the lowest since August 2022—which may suppress rainfall, as a positive IOD usually supports monsoon activity. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) stands at +0.6, indicating neutral conditions. So far, up to 26th August, the country has received 104% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall, reflecting an above-normal season. Northwest India (including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi-NCR) and Central India (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh) have experienced good rains, while Bihar and parts of Northeast India recorded a shortfall earlier, though conditions have improved in recent days. Tune in to understand how September’s rains may unfold and what role El Niño, La Niña, and IOD will play in steering the rest of the season.

In this special episode of Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma (President, Meteorology & Climate Change, Skymet) discusses the revival of the 2025 Southwest Monsoon, which has turned active after a prolonged break. The “Break in Monsoon” that began in late July caused significant rainfall deficiency across central and western India, with a nationwide deficit of 31% at the start of August. Now, a new low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is set to bring heavy to very heavy rains over Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan-Goa, South Gujarat, and Saurashtra in the next 7–8 days. Rainfall in Rajasthan and Gujarat has normalized after earlier surpluses, while the Northeast still faces a 39% deficit. For farmers, the upcoming showers in central India bring relief after a long dry spell, though some crops have already been affected.

As Monsoon 2025 hits its halfway mark, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma decodes the rainfall trends so far — from surplus rains in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh to the risk of floods in Bihar and Northeast India. Learn what "Break in Monsoon" really means and why August–September will be crucial for farmers across India.

In Episode 40 of the Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, analyzes the alarming monsoon situation in Bihar during 2025. With 45 days into the season, the state is reeling under a 55% rainfall deficit—raising concerns for agriculture, groundwater, and daily life. Sharma explains Bihar’s unique geography—Southern Plateau, Gangetic Plains, and Shivalik Foothills—and how rainfall has been uneven across these zones. Southern districts like Gaya, Nawada, and Jamui have fared relatively better, while regions in North and Central Bihar including Saharsa, Araria, Sitamarhi, and Kishanganj are facing a severe shortfall. The episode delves into how Bay of Bengal weather systems have largely favored Jharkhand and West Bengal, bypassing Bihar. It also explores the influence of ENSO and other oceanic parameters. While some rainfall may occur in southern and eastern Bihar soon, full recovery will take time. This episode is a must-listen for farmers, climate watchers, and policymakers.

In Episode 37 of the Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, discusses the early onset and current progress of Monsoon 2025, which covered the entire country by June 29—nine days ahead of schedule. He highlights how both the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea branches played a crucial role in its advancement. While Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh have received above-normal rainfall, regions like Marathwada, Rayalaseema, Bihar, and Northeast India are still facing rain deficits. The episode also explores rainfall prospects for early July, the potential slowdown after July 11, and the possibility of a "Break in Monsoon" due to the northward shift of the trough line.

In this special episode of the Skymet Weather Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, dives deep into the unique characteristics of the 2025 Southwest Monsoon. This year’s monsoon has been notably early and unusually dynamic compared to previous years. The episode explains how the monsoon travels through two distinct branches — the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal — gradually covering the country in three major phases. It also discusses how the monsoon moves from south to north, then east to west, finally merging across the Indian plains. Notably, the monsoon made an early onset over Kerala on May 24 — the earliest in the last 15 years.