Ooty: After nearly a gap 3 weeks, rains were back and brought hopes of the renewal of the southwest monsoon. Though the onset of the southwest monsoon was delayed by two weeks this year in June, it was vigorous during its onset in the third week of June and brought copious rainfall to the hills as Ooty, Kundah, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks received very good rains that time. The heavy rains then also accounted for loss of a life and damage to fields and property in many places across the hills.
From the fourth week of June till this Monday, there was lull in the monsoon pattern and sunny weather dominated the weather profile. Since Tuesday morning there has been a change in the weather profile with clouds, mists, drizzle and occasional showers beginning, and indicative that the southwest monsoon which usually runs up to September, is ready for the second round of wet spell. Farmers wishe for more rains as the south-west monsoon rainfall pattern is said to be very necessary to recharge the groundwater level to sustain agriculture in the months to come.
