PANAJI
The South West Monsoon in Goa, like in other parts of the country, is ending with a deepening rain deficit.
As of September 16, Goa received 1,963.4 mm of rainfall against the normal 2,872.8 mm -- a 31.7 per cent deficit.
The India Meteorological Department’s September 18 bulletin said monsoon activity over Goa remained weak, with only very light to light rain at a few places. Conditions were also becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to withdraw from parts of west Rajasthan from September 19, while the monsoon trough had become disorganised.
The season had begun on a weak note. Although the monsoon reached Goa on June 5, the State received just 166 mm against the normal 573 mm in the first 20 days of June -- a massive 71 per cent deficit.
The extremes are becoming harder to ignore. The 2025 year marked by unseasonal heavy rain and above-normal rainfall in Goa was followed by deficient monsoon rain and prolonged heat this year, recording a ‘feels-like’ temperature of 47.8°C in May and above 35°C by this time.
The Reserve Bank of India has separately warned that Indian agriculture is becoming increasingly vulnerable to frequent and intense extreme-weather events.
