PANAJI
Goa’s monsoon has weakened sharply in the past week, with the State slipping into the rainfall-deficient category even as temperatures remained high and “feels like” temperatures touched nearly 40°C.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the southwest monsoon was weak over Goa in the last few days, with light to moderate rainfall recorded at many places across the State.
On Friday, the maximum temperature was 31.2°C, but the heat index made conditions feel considerably warmer at around 39.4°C. The maximum temperature is expected to remain 31-32°C for the next week and the minimum at 25-26°C.
While Goa’s cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 26 remained in the normal category, the picture changed significantly during the week from August 20 to 26. The State recorded a rainfall deficiency of between 20-50 percent during the period, pushing the weekly rainfall status into the deficient category.
The IMD, however, expects the rainfall pattern to improve over the coming days. It has forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall over Konkan and Goa between August 28 and September 3.
During some days of the week beginning September 3, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls is likely over Konkan and Goa and coastal Karnataka, the IMD added.
“The forecast is linked to evolving monsoon systems, including a likely fresh upper-air cyclonic circulation over the north Bay of Bengal in the first half of the week, which could lead to the formation of a low-pressure area,” it said.
