MAPUSA
Goa’s October, once known for its mild retreating monsoon, has now turned into a month of relentless downpours. This year, the State recorded 374.6 mm of rain, making it the fifth wettest October in 125 years – a clear sign that unseasonal rainfall is fast becoming the new normal.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the only Octobers wetter than this year were in 2019 (540.9 mm), 2006 (423.75 mm), 1955 (413.15 mm), and 1985 (394.3 mm).
Even last year’s October, with 300.1 mm of rainfall, reflected this rising trend of post-monsoon precipitation.
“The last week of October alone contributed nearly 60 per cent of this month’s rainfall,” said Dr M R Ramesh Kumar, noted meteorologist and former scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography.
“Goa was literally sandwiched between the Motha cyclone on the eastern side and a depression over the Arabian Sea, both creating continuous moisture inflow,” Dr Kumar said.
What makes this year’s rainfall remarkable is not just its volume but its persistence. Except for two days, rainfall was recorded throughout the month, marking one of the wettest stretches on record.
Regional disparities also stood out. Pernem in North Goa and Mormugao in South Goa each clocked nearly 500 mm of rain, while Valpoi registered the lowest at 209 mm.
Experts say this pattern points to an emerging shift in post-monsoon behaviour, where cyclonic circulations and delayed monsoon withdrawal are causing prolonged wet spells in October.
“We are witnessing a transitional phase influenced by changing ocean and atmospheric dynamics,” Dr Kumar observed.
With the IMD predicting no weather warnings for the coming week, November may finally bring the much-awaited dry spell.
But this October’s rain, experts warn, could be a harbinger of shifting monsoon boundaries – a sign that Goa’s climate rhythm is gradually changing.
