The southwest monsoon 2014, from June 1 to September 30 was deficit and had ended at -12% of the average rainfall. Against the average rain of 886.9 mm, the country received 777.5 mm of rain during the season. The post monsoon period, from October 1 to December 31 also ended on a deficit note. The country observed 85.2 mm of rain against the average of 127.2 mm, which is 33% deficit.
However, the northeast monsoon has been normal in Tamil Nadu while Kerala has observed surplus rain. Out of the 32 districts in Tamil Nadu, 21 districts observed normal northeast monsoon rain, while 5 were excess. Eight districts were deficit with worst affected being Vellore, where the deficit is 47%. The highest amount of rain was recorded in Tirunelveli, which is 81 % excess.
October was the best month for Tamil Nadu with 252.2 mm of rain being observed against the monthly average of 180.2 mm, which is 40% excess. However, in November and December the northeast monsoon weakened and rainfall reduced. The month of November recorded 110.8 mm of rain against the average of 170 mm, a deficit of 35%. Similarly, December fell short by 25% and recorded 67.3 mm of rain against 90.2 mm. But good rains in October helped the state to narrow down the cumulative deficit and record normal rain.
In Kerala, the northeast monsoon was surplus by 5%. The state received 502 mm of rain against the average of 480.5 mm.Ten districts in the state observed normal rain, while two were excess. Deficit rain was seen in only two districts.
The northeast monsoon sub-division of South Interior Karnataka was deficit by 8%, with 193 mm of rain being reocrded against the normal of 210 mm. Though, 4 districts observed excess rain, the number of districts recording deficit rain was higher. Normal rain was observed in six districts of the state.
The remaining two sub-divisions of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema were hugely deficit. Costal Andhra Pradesh received 227 .5 mm of rain against the average of 326.8 mm. Five districts in the region was deficit, while normal rain was observed in only 3 districts.
The largest deficit was observed in Rayalaseema, where only 138.5 mm was recorded against the average of 219.1 mm, which is 37% deficit. There wasn’t a single district in the sub-division to observe normal or excess rain.
