The month of September commenced with a rainfall deficit of 5% in southern peninsula, which continues to remain the same as on September 22. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, there have been no major variations, though it had dropped marginally to 4% between September 8 and 11.
The region is an important contributor to country’s Southwest Monsoon and comprises of mainland areas such as Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala.
The region so far in September has witnessed subdued rainfall activity and has not observed any heavy downpour, except over the areas of Coastal and South Interior Karnataka. During the first week, two sub divisions- Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana-were reported to be deficit, while South Interior Karnataka was surplus and rest of the sub divisions were observing normal rain with maximum variation of ±19%.
According to Skymet, Telangana is the only sub-division which is deficit by 30% at the moment, while all others have observed average rainfall. However, deficit is fairly high for Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh with 16%and 17% respectively.
Rainfall activity will continue to be subdued for the next 48 hours but is expected to pick up thereafter, commencing from Tamil Nadu and southern parts of Andhra Pradesh, thereon travelling to Karnataka, Kerala and also spreading along the west coast. End of September might also see a marginal drop in the regional deficiency.
As Southwest Monsoon withdraws, rain reduces drastically over North West and Central India. Rain however, continues in southern peninsula. Moreover, rain in south India intensifies during October and November, due to the onset of Northeast Monsoon that coincides with withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon.
Monsoon in India started on a poor note this year, with country witnessing a rainfall deficit of 43% in June. However, the situation improved in July with the cumulative deficit coming down to 22%. In August the deficit was 17%, while in September it has dropped to 11% due to above normal rains in the first week of September.
