Monsoon weak for third day in Kerala

The south-west monsoon stayed weak on the third consecutive day sending alarm signals all over. Scattered rainfall continued in different parts of Kerala.

 The monsoon had ended an extended dry season in the state as it hit the coast on June 1. The rains were expected to offer respite to parched lands and improve the power situation in the state.

In Andhra Pradesh, south-west monsoon advanced further into the Telangana region, bringing much relief from the heat and promise for farming activities.

While rainfall has been vigorous in the Telangana region, there have been isolated showers over coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Macharla in Guntur recorded the maximum rainfall of 17 cm, while Atmakur (Rayalaseema) and Asifabad (Adilabad) had 6 cm rain. Rainfall across Telangana was even.

Karnataka, too, did not witness heavy rain. However, the MeT Department said this does not mean that monsoon has weakened. “Rainfall occurred at a few places over coastal Karnataka and at isolated places over south interior Karnataka, ” said Met Department Director B Puttanna.

Talking about the arrival of the monsoon in the State, he said: “South-West monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of north interior Karnataka and has now covered the entire State in a span of a week. Wednesday saw a few places in Coastal Karnataka and south interior Karnataka receive some amount of rainfall. Unlike last year wherein the South West monsoon arrived on June 5 and took more than 10 days to cover the State, this year the entire State was covered in a week.”

Kodagu district received mild rainfall. Though cloudy atmosphere prevailed throughout the day and people anticipated a heavy rain, it only drizzled every now and then.

Apart from Madikeri city, areas like Ponnampet, Bhagamandala, Napoklu, Shanthalli, Srimangala, Kutta received average rain on Thursday. The district has recorded an average 228.62 mm rain since January. The district had received 207.70 mm rain during the same period last year. Kodagu received an average 1.27 mm rain on Thursday. The water level at the Harangi reservoir on Thursday was 2,801.14 ft as against the maximum level of 2,858 ft. Dakshina Kannada district received mild rainfall on Thursday. Reports said there was incessant rain in some parts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Bijapur, Uttara Kannada, Bagalkot and Bellary districts.