CHENNAI: The northeast monsoon has been bountiful this year, but only over parts of Tamil Nadu. Such uneven seasonal distribution of rainfall saw Chennai and neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur bearing the brunt of the monsoon while the delta districts of Thanjavur and Tiruvarur received below normal showers. Nagapattinam, located at the tail-end of the Cauvery delta, received 29% more rain than usual.
Chennai has so far received 976.2mm rain as against the normal of 558.1mm and in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur it was better this season with 1007.3mm and 946.2mm respectively. Overall, the state received 41.5cm of rain since October 1. Districts like Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram recorded deficit rainfall. All other districts received 20% or above normal, which is considered surplus by the Met department.
Last year, the state received 43cm rain during the entire northeast monsoon season with the above Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts recording a deficit of 32% and 17%. Though there were three cyclones and some troughs in the Bay last year, the rainfall was scanty in 2014 compared to one single low pressure this year which has inundated the northern parts of the state.
"Normal rainfall in the state during northeast monsoon is 43cm. To declare surplus rainfall, it should cross 50cm, which is 20% more than the normal. We received 41.5cm so far and rain was restricted to a few days this monsoon. With a few more weeks to go in the current season, we hope to get more rain this year," former IMD deputy director Y E A Raj said.
The monsoon this year had a delayed start, but it has more than compensated for the loss of rain in the initial days. This is because of two systems in the Bay. "Last November and December, the troughs did not traverse through the peninsula. So, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry saw a dismal monsoon performance during these months. The rainfall came in trickles and ultimately they recorded deficit rain," said a Met official.
Meteorologists say the monsoon has been good due to aggressive systems in the Pacific Ocean. "There were number of typhoons in the West Pacific Ocean and as there was less warming of the ocean. This made the conditions in the Bay conducive to formation of low pressures," said Skymet chief meteorologist Mahesh Palawat.
Chennai has so far received 976.2mm rain as against the normal of 558.1mm and in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur it was better this season with 1007.3mm and 946.2mm respectively. Overall, the state received 41.5cm of rain since October 1. Districts like Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram recorded deficit rainfall. All other districts received 20% or above normal, which is considered surplus by the Met department.
Last year, the state received 43cm rain during the entire northeast monsoon season with the above Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts recording a deficit of 32% and 17%. Though there were three cyclones and some troughs in the Bay last year, the rainfall was scanty in 2014 compared to one single low pressure this year which has inundated the northern parts of the state.
"Normal rainfall in the state during northeast monsoon is 43cm. To declare surplus rainfall, it should cross 50cm, which is 20% more than the normal. We received 41.5cm so far and rain was restricted to a few days this monsoon. With a few more weeks to go in the current season, we hope to get more rain this year," former IMD deputy director Y E A Raj said.
The monsoon this year had a delayed start, but it has more than compensated for the loss of rain in the initial days. This is because of two systems in the Bay. "Last November and December, the troughs did not traverse through the peninsula. So, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry saw a dismal monsoon performance during these months. The rainfall came in trickles and ultimately they recorded deficit rain," said a Met official.
Meteorologists say the monsoon has been good due to aggressive systems in the Pacific Ocean. "There were number of typhoons in the West Pacific Ocean and as there was less warming of the ocean. This made the conditions in the Bay conducive to formation of low pressures," said Skymet chief meteorologist Mahesh Palawat.
Source : Times of India
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