PANJIM: Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds blowing at a speed of 40kmph pounded Goa from the early hours of Tuesday as August reported its wettest day (Aug 4) with 4.60 inches of rain, the third-wettest day of the season.
The southwest monsoon in its active phase, coupled with formation of a low-pressure area over the North Bay of Bengal caused havoc in the State uprooting several trees, bringing down electrical poles, damaging vehicles, houses, flooding roads and bringing traffic to a halt in many places. A death was also reported, after a tree fell on a moving car in Verna.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa Observatory has warned of heavy to very heavy showers with an Orange Alert till August 6, and heavy rainfall activities thereafter. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea.
The heavy rains accompanied by strong wind currents, began late Monday night, but the weather worsened during early Tuesday. As per IMD, 4.77 inches of rainfall (117mm) were recorded for the State.
Fire and Emergency Services Department personnel were on their toes with nearly a hundred calls across the State.
“Monsoon is in its active phase from August 2 as a result strengthening of westerly winds at 1.5km and 3.1km above mean sea level,” IMD scientist Rahul Mohan said.
He said there is also formation of low pressure area over North Bay of Bengal, which has also further strengthened. “When the monsoon gets strengthened, the pressure pattern over Arabian Sea also aligns in such a way that wind speeds at lower levels of atmosphere across the coast increase,” the scientist explained.
