Bay of Bengal depression might bring more showers

North West monsoon setting in also cause for rains in region

A depression in the Bay of Bengal, with the possibility of formation of a cyclone, coupled with the setting in of North Eastern monsoon will result in rains and overcast conditions in South Interior Karnataka.

Rainfall has been reported in several parts of Mysore, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts. While rain related crop damages are being reported in parts of the region, a person was washed away in a stream at Arkalgud, following heavy rainfall on Saturday night.

During the past one week, many regions in the four districts have witnessed fairly widespread to isolated instances of rainfall. In Mysore, for example, moderate rainfall was reported in the evening, following overcast conditions during the day.

In Mysore district, 60.9 mm of rainfall was recorded over the past few days, as against an expected average of 36 mm. The percentage departure from normal rainfall during the past week in Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts were 30, 37 and 67 per cent respectively.

According to weather data released by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell (KSNMDC), Mysore taluk received a total of 47.6 mm over the past week, of which 33.2 mm rainfall was recorded in the last 24 hours (as of October 20). Similarly, of the 74.2 mm rainfall recorded in Mandya during the past week, 34.8 mm of rainfall was recorded in the last 24 hours.

Weekly rainfall in Hassan was 41.7 mm, 82.1 mm in Sakleshpur taluk and 66.4 mm in Chamarajanagar taluk.

South West Monsoon

South Interior parts of Karnataka, experienced a good monsoon this year, with the region receiving an excess of 19 per cent rainfall. While 357 mm is the average normal rainfall during the monsoon, starting in June and ending in September, the region received 411.7 mm of rainfall.

Mysore district’s departure from average rainfall matched that of South Interior Karnataka during the South West monsoon. The district received 446.8 mm during monsoons, against an average of 376.9 mm.

Similarly, Mandya recorded 343.8 mm of rainfall, an excess of 19 per cent from normal. Chamarajanagar had 13 per cent excess rainfall and received 357.9 mm rainfall.

Hassan, the district lying in Malnad region, received the maximum rainfall among the four districts in the region. Hassan received an excess of 34 per cent rainfall during South West monsoon. While 689.2 mm is the average rainfall recorded during the season, Hassan received 924.4 mm.

C N Prabhu, scientist at KSNMDC, said, there is possibility of moderate rainfall in the region, depending on the depression in the Bay of Bengal.

“We will get a clear picture on whether the depression will transform into a cyclone on Monday. If it is a cyclone, there are good chances of overcast conditions continuing for the next few days,” he said.