Winter rains are far and few for the southern state of Kerala. It usually starts raining during the Pre-Monsoon season that spans from March, increases in mid-April and peaks in the month of May until the arrival of Southwest Monsoon.
The month of May is already halfway through and the state has seen some very good spells, particularly in the last couple of days. These rains generally stretch until Southwest Monsoon’s onset over the state which if commences early, curtails the pre-Monsoon season and if commences late, extends the same.
The average monthly pre-Monsoon rains for the state is the least in the month of March and is at its highest in the month of May. The average monthly rainfall amount is 30.4 mm in March, is more than double in April at 109.5 mm and stands at 240 mm in May.
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Further, after the arrival of Southwest Monsoon, rainfall amounts to a hefty 650 mm and 726 mm in June and July respectively. However, it starts dipping from August onward.
As of now, the state has experienced a good amount of rainfall in both the months of March and April and so far, May is also being doing well.
Let us take a look at the rains received in both the pre-Monsoon months:
Moreover, from March 1 to May 16, Kerala has received 35% excess rainfall which is 316 mm as against its normal of 233.4 mm.
Taking into consideration the weekly rains during this pre-Monsoon season:
The table clearly depicts that the rain activity over the state has witnessed a substantial jump as the month progressed. In the past 24 hours also, almost the entire state had recorded some light to moderate rains.
Within the span of 24 hours from 08:30 am on Thursday, Kollam has recorded three-digit rains to the tune of 116 mm, Kozhikode 32 mm, Punalur 28 mm, Alappuzha 27 mm, Thiruvananthapuram 24 mm, Kochi 13 mm, and Kannur witnessed 3 mm of rains.
These rains were due to the recent weather system which was in the southeast Arabian Sea. However, now this system is likely to intensify and move away further westwards. Due to this shift, the rains would reduce both in the intensity and spread over the state in the next 48 hours.
Though this would also be a short duration break as the rains would again pick up the pace and continue until the arrival of Monsoon which is anticipated a little early this year.
Image Credit: wikipedia
Any information taken from here should be credited to skymetweather.com