South Peninsula region, an important contributing factor to country’s monsoon is reeling under a monsoon deficit of 5% consistent for last 18 days, despite light rains.
Monsoon season in India started on a poor note this year, with country witnessing a deficit of 43 per cent for June, the onset month of the monsoon. However, the situation improved in July, reducing the cumulative deficit for the country to 22 per cent. With 17% deficient in August, the rain deficiency finally dipped to 11% due to above normal rains in the first week of September.
The withdrawal effect of southwest monsoon can be seen in South India where sub divisions have observed varied rainfall. While Telangana was the only deficient sub division, others remained normal. A&N Island, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep were the sub divisions that received rain above normal. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema and Tamil Nadu were the areas witnessing rain below normal this monsoon season.
As southwest monsoon withdraws in India, rain reduces drastically over North West and Central India. Rain however continues in South Peninsula. Moreover, as the rest of the country observes relief from the monsoon rain during October and November, it intensifies in South India due to the onset of Northeast Monsoon that coincides with withdrawal of Southwest monsoon.
