Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

State likely to get normal rainfall

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State is likely to receive normal rainfall during the Northeast monsoon this year as per the available signals, according to Met Centre Director K. Santhosh.

The season, which spans the October-December period, is the second highest rain-giving season of Kerala after the Southwest monsoon. During the season, the State gets 50 cm of rainfall.

The State received normal Northeast monsoon rainfall during the last 10 years except during 1995 and 2000. Excess rain was received in 1997 (31 per cent); 1998 (30 per cent); 1999 (23 per cent) and 2002 (32 per cent).

Idukki receives the highest rainfall of 64 cm, whereas Kasaragod receives half this quantity. Apart from Idukki, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts also receive more than 60 cm of rainfall during the season, Mr. Santhosh said.

Out of its total annual rainfall, Kerala gets 69 per cent from the Southwest monsoon, 16 per cent from the Northeast, 14 per cent from pre-monsoon showers from March to May and one per cent in January-February.

The Northeast monsoon had set in over Kerala on October 12 this year and this was earlier than usual, Mr. Santhosh said. It was the first time since 1997 that the Northeast monsoon had arrived over the State before October 15. In 1997, it had set in on October 13. Since then, the onset had been in the second half of October or early November.

He said the onset of the Northeast monsoon is marked by the formation of low pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal and their intensification. As a result, moisture-bearing winds blowing from the Northeast enter the east coast of the country, causing copious rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka and Kerala.

Afternoon thundershowers are the notable feature of the Northeast monsoon. During the current onset phase, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls occurred over Kerala from October 12 to 14 under the influence of an intense low pressure area over the Southeast Arabian sea off the Kerala coast, Mr. Santhosh said.

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