Chennai: Southwest monsoon, which accounts for around 35 per cent of annual rainfall in Tamil Nadu, is witnessing a deficiency of 12 per cent in the state, as of Tuesday, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated. However, if the current pace of rainfall continues, weather experts forecast, that the state would see ‘near normal’ to ‘excess’ rainfall within two weeks.
The deficiency, which stood at 32 percent till 26 July from the commencement of the southwest monsoon on 1 June, has come down drastically to 12 per cent on Tuesday (August 1).
Director of Regional Meteorological Centre S. Balachandran said, “Southwest monsoon, which provides 35 per cent rains to the state is highly active in Nilgiris and Coimbatore region. The convective activity in the monsoon season is the reason for the rains.”
Widespread rains in Delta regions and other parts of south Tamil Nadu provides a possibility of wiping out the deficiency, opined weather experts. S. Ramachandran, a noted Astro-meteorologist, who blogs at Tamilnadu Mandran, said, “Southwest monsoon will be extended until October second week this time, against the usual period till September end. The overall monsoon could be near normal, as good rains can be expected from the third week of August.”
Significant rains in Tiruvarur, Sivagangai, Tirupathur and Tiruvannamalai accounts to 13.1 mm average on Tuesday, 10 times above the daily average noted in the season. Tirupathur noted the highest rainfall of 7 cm on Tuesday while Salem noted 6cm. Palayamkottai station noted 4cm.
Reasoning the rainfall activity, weather blogger Pradeep John said, “We are experiencing a break monsoon where in the monsoon axis gets struck along the foothills of Himalayas, facilitating rains in Tamil Nadu.
As the condition is predicted to continue for the next two weeks, the monsoon could go towards the positive side in August from being deficient now.”
