Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh has received 13 per cent deficient rainfall during the southwest monsoon, which ended on Saturday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
This is the first time in four years that the state has received normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon. From 2019 to 2022, the state recorded above-normal rainfall.
However, rain activity over Andhra Pradesh is expected to continue till the first week of October, with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall in parts of the state.
The southwest monsoon arrived in Andhra Pradesh on June 11, a week later than its usual date of arrival.
Director of IMD-Amaravati, Stella S., said that the state recorded a total of 454.6 mm rainfall between June 1 and September 30 in 2023, which is 13 per cent lower than the normal of 521.6 mm.
Seven districts (Kakinada, Prakasam, Nellore, and West Godavari of coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Anantapur, Annamayya, and Kurnool of Rayalaseema region) out of the total 26 faced rainfall deficit between 20 and 34 per cent. Anantapur district recorded the highest rain deficit of 34 per cent.
A total of 17 districts recorded normal category rainfall, and only Krishna district recorded excess rainfall of 32 per cent during the period.
The monsoon has been a story of swings in the state this year. Rainfall was 37 per cent deficient in June, excess by 16 per cent in July, deficient again by 25 per cent in August, and finally ended with a 13 per cent deficit in September.
Rain distribution has been good in some parts of the coastal Andhra Pradesh region, while it has been comparatively weak in Rayalaseema region.
Due to scanty rainfall in June and August, the yield of paddy, pulses, and a few other kharif season crops may decline in the state. However, the heavy rains in parts of the state in July and September filled the deficit gap, and the monsoon ended with normal rainfall category.
