PANJIM: Goa is having its wettest monsoon in over a century. Not only has it beaten last year’s seasonal tally, the four-month season is yet to end, and has already recorded its highest-ever rainfall surpassing that of 1961, the year Goa got liberated from the Portuguese.
With 41 per cent surplus rains, the State broke its six decade average normal trend, when it touched 162.2 inches (4121.0mm) of rains on Friday, September 25. The year 1961 had recorded 160 inches of rain for the entire season.
The year 2019, also saw extensive rains with 33 per cent surplus. A total of 155.3 inches (3943.8mm) of rains were recorded last season.
Various factors have been attributed to the increasing rainfall activities, including a low-pressure belt formation in the Arabian Sea, Cyclone Nisarag, low-pressure area in Bay of Bengal, cyclonic circulations, offshore trough etc.
“The monsoon currents have been very active over the State throughout the season,” IMD Goa scientist Rahul Mohan said.
He said that till Friday, the State has received the highest ever rains with 41 per cent surplus. “The season is yet to end,” Mohan said, adding that the State’s average rainfall is 117.1 inches (2975.6mm).
Though, the 2020 season began on June 1, the onset of the monsoon over Goa, was delayed till June 11. The South-West monsoon touched the 100-inch mark of rain within 66 days of the season, the second fastest since 2013.
So far September has recorded 28 inches of rain, while June recorded 42 inches of rain, July crossed 50 inches and August received 43 inches of rain.
As reported earlier, the monsoon rains are likely to enjoy an extended period this year as the four-month long weather phenomenon is set for a late withdrawal.
Goa had been receiving deficit rainfall since 2015, wherein the deficit was 20 percent. For that year, State received 2387.9mm rains. In 2016, the deficit declined to 1 percent, with total rains of 2955.9 mm. However, the deficit jumped back to 14 per cent with 2555.2mm of rains in 2017 and 19 per cent deficit with 2410.5mm of rains in 2018.
