THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a weak delayed start, the southwest monsoon seems to be catching up with a vengeance.
A week ago, the rains were more than 50 percent deficient. However on Saturday, when the rainfall recorded was the highest this season, the deficiency was brought down to 13 percent.
With the Met Department predicting heavy rainfall for the next five days till the morning of June 30, the shortage is expected to be made up before the end of June.
Till June 20, the state's average rainfall was way below normal; more than 50 percent deficient. There were many days when rainfall was below 5 mm; during a normal monsoon these early days should bring between 15-20 mm.
This weakness, which in meteorological jargon is termed 'limping', had even prompted experts to confidently brand this season as weak. There were even fears of a drought.
However, on June 21 when fears of a poor monsoon were doing the rounds, there was a sudden increase in rainfall; from 10 mm on June 20 to 35 mm the next day.
This sudden spike in intensity sustained for four more days and then on June 26, the rainfall received shot up to 45 mm. And then on Saturday, the state received a bounteous 70 mm, more than double the normal.
In the northern parts of the state, heavy rains wreaked havoc killing people, including five school children who were crushed under their school bus when a tree fell over it.
Years of plotting the southwest monsoon have revealed that the three-month phenomenon is most intense during the 15-odd days between June 26 and July 11.
“Given the traditional behaviour of the monsoon, it seems to have peaked at the right time,” said Joseph Mananthavady, a climatologist.
The late consistency of the southwest monsoon has also considerably brought down daily power consumption.
It has shrunk to nearly 50 million units. Last year, during the last week of June, consumption was over 60 MU.
