MAPUSA
After a sluggish start, the monsoon in Goa showed signs of revival earlier this week, but overall, the first fortnight of July has been marked by below-normal rainfall and weak monsoon activity across the State.
According to official data, Dharbandora emerged as the wettest location in the State so far this season, crossing the 2,000 mm mark with a cumulative rainfall of 2,080.5 mm recorded till Tuesday morning.
In contrast, Mormugao has received the least rainfall at 867.2 mm.
Over the last 24 hours, Sanquelim reported the highest rainfall at 88.2 mm, while Mapusa recorded the lowest at just 26.3 mm.
Despite the recent uptick in rainfall activity since Monday evening, the State continues to trail slightly behind in seasonal precipitation.
As of July 15, Goa registered a rainfall deficit of around 2 percent, whereas the Indian subcontinent as a whole has recorded a 10 percent excess for the same period.
Meteorologist and former chief scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dr M R Ramesh Kumar, attributed the subdued rainfall to weak monsoon conditions prevailing for most of the first half
of July.
“The rainfall has been far from satisfactory, with the State facing weak monsoon conditions for most of the days this month. Except for July 2, monsoon activity has been subdued throughout,” Dr Kumar noted.
He pointed out a stark difference from the previous year.
“Last July, 2024, was one of the wettest in 124 years of recorded rainfall for Goa,” he added, underscoring the unusual nature of this year’s monsoon behaviour.
A key factor behind this anomaly, he said, is the absence of any low-pressure systems or depressions over the Indian region this season so far – a rare occurrence for mid-July.
“The core monsoon zone experienced active conditions from June 30 to July 7, but Goa remained on the sidelines,” he observed.
Upper atmospheric dynamics have also played a role.
According to Dr Kumar, the low-level jet stream – a crucial driver of monsoon activity – has remained weak, with wind speeds ranging between 15 and 20 knots, significantly lower than the typical peak of 30 knots.
“This jet stream, which channels moisture from surrounding seas to the Indian subcontinent, has not been strong enough to sustain heavy and widespread rains,” he said.
As the monsoon enters the second half of July, meteorologists and local authorities are keeping a close watch on atmospheric developments, hoping for a stronger phase ahead to compensate for the early-month deficit.
