Southwest Monsoon Weak Over AP; 13 Districts Facing Deficit Rainfall
Among the districts which also received excess rainfall are NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Kurnool, Nandyal, and Sri Sathya Sai.
Visakhapatnam: Southwest monsoon has been weak over Andhra Pradesh, with 13 of the total 28 districts recording deficit rainfall from the period between June 1 and June 16. The monsoons had set in over Andhra Pradesh on June 4.
According to reports, the state received 48.87 mm rainfall from June 1 to June 16 against the normal rainfall of 57.12 mm registering a deficit of 14.44 per cent. Parts of Rayalaseema and coastal AP fared well, with Anantapur registering the highest rainfall. The actual rainfall in this district during the last fortnight had been 82.57mm, against the normal of 45.82 mm, registering a departure of 80.86 per cent.
Among the districts which also received excess rainfall are NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Kurnool, Nandyal, and Sri Sathya Sai.
The rainfall-deficit districts are Srikakulam, ASR, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Nellore, Kadapa, Annamaya, Chittoor, Tirupati, Markapuram, and Polavaram. Parvathipuram Manyam, Konaseema, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, and Prakasam received normal rainfall.
Weatherman says the monsoon in India has started sluggishly, with a significant national rainfall deficit, primarily driven by the emergence of El Nino and disruptive upper-level wind patterns. A complex combination of atmospheric and oceanographic phenomena has hindered early monsoon progression, a report says. Due to these adverse conditions, the IMD has projected a below-normal season (about 90 per cent of the Long Period Average).
“Dry conditions will prevail for another few days and heavy rainfall for AP can be expected from June 22 or June 23 due to changes in the wind pattern,’’ said senior scientist at IMD, Amaravati, Dr. S. Karunasagar.
Talking to this correspondent, he pointed out that low pressure systems, which actually drive the monsoons, are far from sight.
Reports said due to scanty rainfall, groundwater level is receding and reservoirs levels are remaining low. This has affected the sowing of Kharif crops over large parts of the state.