the goan I network
PANAJI
Showers finally hit the State on Thursday, making it the longest delay of arrival of the monsoons in the State in at least 20 years.
Director of the Goa Meteorological Department Dr Krrishnamurthy V Padgalwar said, after a two week delay the Met Department finally declared the onset of the monsoons on June 20. While widespread rainfall had been received in the State over June 19-20, the highest rainfall was received at Pernem, and the lowest at Quepem, he said.
Meanwhile, due to rough seas, the Met Department warning to fishermen to not head out into the sea still stands. A “heavy rainfall” warning has been issued by the department for the next three to four days in Goa, as the monsoon is progressing slightly towards the North.
“We are expecting an active monsoon during this week for the Goa region,” said the director, explaining that the clouds within a 300 kilometer distance in the South West direction were approaching Goa.
This year, the monsoons were delayed on account of Cyclone Vayu, which had run parallel to Goa around 10 days ago. Though Vayu brought in some showers to the State, it took away all the moisture from the atmosphere, making it an unfavourable atmosphere for the onset of the monsoons.
The Met Dep has forecast a good rainy season for the State this year, along with showers from the Indian Summer Monsoon. Scientists are still studying the data of the last 50 years to ascertain whether there has been such a delay in the last five decades, and will be able to confirm the same in a day or two.
