PANJIM: Goa received 60.3 per cent less rainfall than the normal rainfall last month, making it the driest month in a decade, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Altinho.
A prolonged break of rainfall was witnessed from August 6 to 17 and from August 26 to 31.
The State received 289.1 mm of rainfall in August this year as against the normal rainfall of 728.3 mm, registering a negative departure of 60.3 per cent. However, despite the scarce rainfall in August, the State has received 2.6 per cent more of seasonal rainfall this year compared to the normal rainfall.
The rainfall received this season was 2,776.8 mm as against the normal rainfall of 2,706 mm, marking a positive departure of 2.6 per cent, the IMD said. June 28, 2023, was the day when the State received the highest rainfall of 142.5 mm, the IMD informed.
Ponda received the maximum rainfall of 374.2 mm, Pernem 308.2mm and Margao 180.6 mm of rainfall in August. According to the IMD, the rainfall is likely to revive in the State from September 3.
“The break continues and it is likely to end on September 3 onwards as there is a forecast of rainfall since then,” an IMD official said. At the national level, the IMD has already declared August as the driest month since 1901 and the hottest ever recorded in the country.
“This is one of the most prolonged breaks in monsoon conditions in the month of August. July-August, which is the mid-monsoon months of the summer monsoon, contributes to about 70 per cent of the seasonal rainfall,” said M R Ramesh Kumar, former chief scientist, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula.