MAPUSA
After almost a two week break, the southwest monsoon has shown signs of revival with light to moderate rainfall predicted for next six days in the State.
Several parts of Goa experienced widespread rainfall on Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department has said light to moderate rainfall is very likely at most places from Aug 20 to 25. However, no weather warning has been issued for the State.
The break in the monsoon had raised a worry among the agriculturists as the break was one of the most prolonged breaks this month.
“The dry and weak monsoon conditions in Goa have been predominant this year from August 5 till about August 17 as can be clearly seen from the daily rainfall data available,” said Dr Ramesh Kumar, a meteorologist.
He said the monsoon was about to revive in the country and the State due to formation of a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.
“The revival of monsoon is because of a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, which will pull the moisture and transport into the Peninsular India and also in Goa. The upper level winds which are at a height of about 1.5 km above mean sea level have substantially increased from Friday onwards which will reach the peak wind speed of low level jet stream in the coming days,” he said.
He said usually the break in monsoon conditions occur in the peak monsoon months of July-August which is very important, as these months contribute about 70 percent of the seasonal rainfall.
He attributed the change in the monsoon pattern to the El Nino effect which is sweeping the Indian subcontinent.
“This year is an El Nino year, which is supposed to peak at the same time as that of July-August period. This El Nino phenomenon has affected the whole of the Indian subcontinent too, which has been experiencing a break in monsoon conditions from August 5,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State received an average rainfall of 2617.3 mm as opposed to the normal of 2490.5 mm from June 1 to August 19, reflecting a surplus of 5.1 percent.
In the last 24 hours the highest amount of rainfall was reported from Quepem (37.2 mm) and the lowest at Dabolim (7.8 mm).
The following was the rainfall reported from other centres: Mapusa (23.0 mm), Pernem (10.8), Ponda (20.0), Panaji (15.0), Old Goa (21.5), Sanquelim (9.4), Canacona (35.2) and Mormugao (10.8 mm).
