Southwest monsoon: 3 districts receive largely excess rain

Chennai: Southwest monsoon has been satisfactory in Tamil Nadu, with three districts in the state recording largely excess rains of above 60 per cent, as of August 2 this year. A total of six districts in the state noted excess rainfall of above 20 per cent and 59 per cent, as per the data available from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The union territory of Puducherry has received excess rainfall of 35 per cent above the normal of 125.9mm. Coimbatore, Perambalur and Sivaganga noted an excess of 78 per cent, 63 per cent and 100 per cent respectively, as of August 2.

Six districts in Tamil Nadu including Ariyalur, Thanjavur and Theni has recorded excess rainfall, statistics say. Thootukudi is the only Tamil Nadu district to be in the largely deficient category with a defict of 61 per cent rainfall.

Weather experts predict a productive end to the southwest monsoon that commenced on June 1. Director of Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), S Balachandran said, “As it is going to be an extended monsoon, good rains can be expected in Tamil Nadu. The state had already received an average of around 2cm in August.” It may be noted that the average monthly rainfall of August is 8cm in Tamil Nadu.

The director also said that the August rainfall would exceed the monthly average as widespread rains are expected in the state in the next one-week. There is also a good chance of this rainfall benefiting the eight rain deficient districts in the state including Virudhu Nagar, Namakkal, Nilgiris and Krishnagiri.