PANJIM: Though the country as a whole has received excess rainfall this year, for Goa, the four-month southwest monsoon period was marked with deficit rains. The season ended on Friday falling 9.6 per cent short of normal seasonal average.
This is for the first time in last five years that Goa recorded deficit rainfall. The State’s average seasonal rainfall this year is 2720 mm, which is 9.6 per cent less than the long period average (normal) value of 3008 mm.
“Any value between +19% to -19% is considered normal rainfall for a state,” IMD Goa in-charge M Rahul said.
The monsoon season officially ended on Friday, while the normal date for its withdrawal is from October 14.
After the advance of monsoon over Goa on June 10, a delay of five days from the normal onset, the month recorded around 8 per cent less than normal, while July saw a 12 per cent higher than normal average.
“The significant reduction in rainfall was in the month of August when it was only half of the normal rainfall. A 7 per cent higher than normal rain in September also couldn’t help the seasonal total to reach upto its normal value, which is first time since 2018,” Rahul explained.
In 2019, the total seasonal rainfall was 30 per cent higher than normal, whereas in 2020, the record breaking year saw 40 per cent excess rains. In 2021 it rainfall was 5 per cent higher.
Rahul said that the main reason for a fall in value of this year's monsoon total was the deficient rainfall in August that reported only 359mm of rainfall as against the normal average of 728mm. He said that August was the main contributor of rainfall in 2019 and 2020.
July 7 and 8, were the wettest days of the season with average rainfall of 162 mm, which is highest in the last nine years.
Among the 13 rain gauge stations in Goa, the highest seasonal total was recorded from Valpoi (3665 mm) and lowest from Dabolim (2082mm). Pernem which had been recording highest in past two years was second highest this time with 3437mm.