Team Herald
PANJIM: The onset of the south-west monsoon over Goa has been further delayed by another four to five days. This is the longest delay the State has witnessed in the last eight years, with the monsoon normally setting over Goa between June 6 and June 11.
“The monsoon has been delayed by another four to five days. It has advanced over North Karnataka but will take four to five days to set over Goa and Konkan,” V K Mini, Goa Director, India Meteorological Department said.
Mini said the actual date of the monsoon to set over Goa is June 6. “We are waiting for further communication from the headquarters to know the exact date when the monsoon will set over Goa and Konkan,” Mini said.
As per the records available in 2014, the onset of monsoon had been delayed till June 13. However, after 2015, 2016 would witness the longest delay for the arrival of the monsoon.
As per records available, in 2009 the south-west monsoons had arrived on June 9 and in 2010 it was on June 10. In 2011, the monsoon onset was reported on June 6 while in 2012 it was somewhere between June 6-7. In 2013, the monsoon reached Goa on June 4, before its actual onset date. In 2015 the monsoon had hit the State on June 8.
Asked whether the delay will have any impact on the overall season, Mini refused to comment saying ‘the picture would be clear only after monsoon advances’.
Meanwhile, pre-monsoon showers have also stopped, leading to a rise in temperatures. “The maximum temperature rose markedly above normal in North Goa and rose appreciably in South Goa. The highest maximum temperature of 32.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at Mormugao,” the Met department said.
The department said moderate rain is likely to occur at most places during the next five days and heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in Goa on Thursday.
