TN records 5 per cent rainfall deficit

The southwest monsoon has brought copious rainfall to Karnataka and Kerala even as Tamil Nadu recorded five per cent deficit in rainfall between June 1 and September 30, according to the latest statistics from Regional Meteorological Centre at Chennai.

Nearly five months after the arrival of southwest monsoon, as many as 13 out of 32 districts in the state have received less rainfall, said a record which was released by the weather department on Sunday. The southwest monsoon, which usually brings more rain to Tanjavur and Trichy districts, was deficient with these regions recording a figure of 32 per cent and 42 percent respectively compared to previous year.

Interestingly, Chennai, which normally records less rainfall during this season, received excess rainfall of about 22 per cent. Likewise, an unpredictable aspect of the rainfall pattern this time is that Coimbatore and coastal Erode, which normally receive poor rain this monsoon, have recorded excess rainfall.

The statistics said that Coimbatore recorded excess rainfall of 303 mm against its usual 108 mm during this monsoon. “The southwest monsoon will go on till second week of October. Therefore, the state is expected to receive rainfall in the coming weeks”, a senior official from Met Department told Deccan Herald.

Referring to the rain that Coimbatore, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur received in the couple of months, he said that the rainfall was in excess and there was no way to predict how much these districts would receive during the next season. He said usually south Tamil Nadu will get more rain during southwest monsoon and northern parts of the state will receive good rain only during north east monsoon period.

Meanwhile, with the fading away of southwest monsoon, the water flow in other reservoirs in the state including Bhavanisagar, Papanasam, Sholayar and Parambikulam was also reduced day by day.