Monsoon weakens again in Kerala

Raising concern, southwest monsoon became weak again on Saturday. The monsoon, which was regaining normalcy in a slow pace, again became 23 per cent deficient in the state. Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that monsoon will be active by Tuesday.

Except Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasargod and Kannur, which received normal rainfall, monsoon is weak in other districts. “Monsoon will be weak in the next two to three days. The state will get good rainfall after Tuesday. Monsoon is expected to be normal in the coming days,” IMD scientist P S Biju said.

The brief lull is likely to continue till Monday when a fresh pulse is expected over the Bay of Bengal.

Analysis of current meteorological conditions and numerical weather prediction models indicate that the conditions are not conducive for further advance of monsoon during the next four to five days. Thereafter, another pulse may develop in the Bay of Bengal which may lead to advance of monsoon over remaining parts of Central India and some more parts of northwest India, according to the weekly update of the IMD.“The analysis of monsoon rainfall during the past 10 years show that there is 5 per cent decrease in the rainfall in the state. If the normal amount of monsoon rainfall was 2,143 mm 10 years ago, it has become 2,039 mm now. This will be reflected in the rainfall pattern,” Biju said.

“Since 2005, the onset of monsoon was within May. This time monsoon reached the state only by June 5. Since the onset is delayed, it would take some time to pick up. There is nothing abnormal,” he said. Meanwhile, the IMD released the revised forecast on Friday, which reiterated that monsoon will be normal in the county.