South West monsoon 2013 rainfall from 1st June to 30th September for the country was observed at 106% of its long period average (LPA). Skymet forecast was 103% with the model error of plus/minus 4%.
• The onset of monsoon was on or before time and the entire country came under sweep of monsoon air mass one month before the normal date.
• Monsoon 2013 was ‘No Break’ monsoon which is very uncommon. It also had the longest duration over Delhi and NCR by surpassing its earlier record of 111 days of 1956.
• Exceptionally heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand during the onset phase resulted in huge loss of life and property.
• Typical inundating spells resulting in deluge along the west coast, particularly Mumbai gave a miss.
• Bouts of floods due to rise in levels of Brahmaputra river remained elusive or at least minimal.
• Parts of Gujarat including Saurashtra and Kutch experienced bash of rains more than once during the season.
• Substantial portions of the country covering almost 10 states extending from Bihar to Rajasthan got swept by the monsoon current very rapidly between 14 and 16th June, thereby completing onset of monsoon over India- one month before the normal dates.
