Rainfall deficiency at 41%, only capital receives normal precipitation

A late onset and tropical Cyclone Vayu which raged over the Arabian Sea have apparently robbed Kerala of its normal rainfall quota in the initial days of the southwest monsoon.

Data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday pegged rainfall deficiency in the State at 41%, with just one district - Thiruvananthapuram - receiving normal rainfall between June 1 and June 19.

Monsoon rain has been deficient in all the other 13 districts, with Kasaragod and Wayanad recording 57% and 55% deficiency and Kannur, Idukki, Kollam, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur reporting deficiency between 40% and 50%.

Delayed by a week

This year the southwest monsoon was delayed by a full week, finally setting in over Kerala on June 8.

Overall, Kerala received 236.3 mm till June 19 against 398.5 mm, the normal volume expected for the period. The received rainfall is deemed ‘normal’ if the percentage departure from the normal rainfall for a given period is between -19% and +19%. IMD officials blamed the delayed monsoon onset and Vayu for playing spoilsport, though the cyclone spared the Kerala coast.

“After taking shape near Lakshadweep, Cyclone Vayu charted a north-northwestward path. But it upset wind patterns, contributing to rainfall deficiency here. The monsoon did not persist in its active phase, having remained so for only about five days after the onset. Now it has to pick up,” K. Santhosh, director, Meteorological Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, said.

And it may have started displaying signs of revival. A five-day forecast by the IMD on Wednesday indicates the possibility of widespread rainfall. Several central and northern districts can even expect isolated heavy fall.

The IMD has issued yellow alerts signalling heavy rainfall for Kozhikode and Kannur for Thursday; Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur for Friday; Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod for Saturday; and Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod for Sunday.