Team Herald
PANJIM: The late arrival of the monsoon and scarce rainfall has left the State with a deficit of 11 percent in the average rainfall for June.
As per the data with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in June, Goa received 803 mm of rainfall against the expected average of 906 mm making it a deficit of 11 percent in rainfall. In 2016 the State has received excess rain taking the figure to 1216.6 mm.
North Goa received 883.3 mm of rain, less than the expected 949.9 mm with a deficit of 7 percent while in South Goa the total rainfall was 730.5 mm far less than the expected 866.5mm making it an overall deficit of 16 percent.
IMD has attributed the deficit to a weak offshore trough current. However, the MET department is confident rainfall will pick up in the coming days.
Speaking to Herald, IMD-Goa, Director, M L Sahu said, “The main reason is that the offshore trough current was weak at the start and picked up only in mid-June. Every year it won’t be the same. Last year we had received excess rainfall.”
He added, “June is not that important, what are important are the months of July and August and we are sure that the lack of rainfall shall be compensated. Rainfall was sparse in the last week as the offshore trough was mild and weak, if it is strong we get heavy and a good amount of rainfall.”
The forecast for the weekend is light to moderate rain/thundershowers at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places from July1 to 4.
The forecast further states that Sankhali and Sanguem received 5 cm of rainfall each while Ponda, Panjim and Mapusa recorded 3 cm each, Pernem and Quepem 2 cm each while Canacona 1 cm.
Panjim is forecast to get a few spells of rain in the next 24 hours with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 32 and 24 degrees Celsius. The department on Friday recorded a high temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius.
