Monsoon yet to pick pace in the region

Rainfall expected to gain momentum by the end of June

Over a fortnight into the month of June, monsoon is yet to pick pace in the region. According to the forecast by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell (KSNDMC), monsoon rainfall is expected to gain momentum only during the last week of June or the first week of July.

Even though rainfall pattern till the month of June has been above average, rainfall has seen a dip during the past week. During the period, all the districts in the region — Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Kodagu — have received deficient rainfall. Mysuru recorded 11.16 mm rainfall during the past week, against an average of 18.1 mm resulting in a deficiency of 38 per cent. Hassan received 21.88 mm rainfall, against an average of 31.90 mm, with a deficiency of 31 per cent. Kodagu district recorded only 50.81 mm against an average of 143 mm, resulting in 64 per cent deficiency. Similar patterns are observed in Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts.

The spell of pre-monsoon showers recorded in the said districts, which lasted till the first week of June, has helped agricultural activity. The rains have also ensured that the districts received average rainfall. However, the scenario has been different in Kodagu, the primary catchment area for the region.

From June 1, Kodagu district has received only 131.56 mm rainfall, against an average of 292 mm till June 17, resulting in 55 per cent deficiency.

Expected pattern
Speaking to Deccan Herald, C N Prabhu, scientist at KSNDMC, said, the monsoon pattern observed during the first half of June was ‘as expected’. “The forecast was below average for the first fortnight. Currently, the monsoon is weak, but active and will pick pace by the end of June,” he said.

He said, the monsoon was affected by Ashobha, a cyclone in the Arabian sea near the coast of Oman, during the first week of June. “Even though the cyclone did some extra damage, the monsoon condition was expected,” he said.

Agricultural activities have not been hit yet, as the region received excess pre-monsoon showers, resulting in enough moisture in the soil for sowing activities. The moisture is enough to sustain the crop for the next week or so, by which the region will receive showers, he said.