PANAJI
The southwest monsoon may have officially arrived in Goa, but the State is still waiting for the sustained rainfall that typically accompanies its arrival, with unusually high temperatures and humid conditions continuing to grip the coastal region.
The delayed onset of widespread rain comes as a new international climate forecast projects that the Konkan-Goa belt could face some of the country’s largest rainfall deficits during the core monsoon months of July, August and September.
The forecast, issued by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), suggests a heightened probability of below-average rainfall across large parts of India during the second half of the monsoon season.
Weather maps accompanying the forecast indicate that the most significant departures from normal rainfall could occur along the western coast, including Goa, where seasonal deficits of 100-200 mm or more are projected.
Meteorologists have also been monitoring the development of El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures over Konkan and Goa remained appreciably above normal during the past week, while minimum temperatures have also stayed above seasonal averages. The IMD has forecast hot and humid weather conditions across Goa till June 13.
At the same time, the weather office expects isolated to scattered rainfall across Konkan and Goa through June 17, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, likely on June 12 and 13.
Despite the gloomy long-range outlook from international climate models, the IMD's short-term forecast remains more optimistic for Goa, as it stated rainfall over Konkan and Goa is expected to be near normal to above normal during the coming week, while most parts of the country are likely to receive below-normal rainfall.
