Monsoon weakens, rainfall 28% deficient

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 19

The southwest monsoon has lost steam as the country received 28 per cent less rainfall than normal last week (August 11 to 17).

In the week that concluded yesterday, except for the Northwest which received exactly the amount it was supposed to, the other three regions —South Peninsula, Central India and East and Northeast—recorded less than normal rains. Leading the pack, the South Peninsula has recorded a deficiency of 71 per cent. While the June-September seasonal rains have been normal so far (from June 1 till date), it has largely been due to excess rains received by northwest (8 per cent) and central India (10 per cent). In comparison, the South Peninsula has received 8 per cent less rains and the East and Northeast region 16 per cent less so far.

The IMD is expecting a surge in the rainfall activity in the parched southern parts by the month-end. The northwest India, which has received 8 per cent excess rains so far, may also see more rains, it says. However, meteorologists now expect the recent shortfalls to place the season in the “normal category” than the “above normal” as was expected earlier. The current monsoon performance is considered a boon, given that the past two years had been drought seasons.