Thiruvananthapuram: After a relatively slow start, the north-east monsoon has picked up steam in the southern parts of Kerala. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 13, the state has received 16 percent less than normal rainfall. However, the development of a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal since Nov. 11 has suddenly made the moisture-laden north-easterly formidable.
“The IMD has predicted more than normal rainfall this year. We are expecting the monsoon to gather steam in the latter part,” said K. Santhosh, director of Indian Meteorological Department. While over 85 percent of the country had received excess rainfall, Kerala is one of the handful of states that have received normal or less than normal rain.
The latest IMD figures show that Kannur, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta are the only districts that have received more than normal rainfall. Thiruvananthauram and Kollam districts, both of which had till now recorded a rainfall deficiency of 22 percent, have been receiving the highest rainfall in the last two days. Alappuzha, which had a deficiency of 39 percent, is close behind.
“Traditionally speaking, the north-east monsoon begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Dec. 31,” the IMD director said. However, disaster management expert Dr Sekhar Kuria-kose said that unlike the south-west monsoon, the north-east is plagued with uncertainty. “It is usual for the onset of the north-east monsoon to be late by at least 10-20 days,” he said.
