Ooty Recorded 50% Deficit Rainfall During Southwest Monsoon
While the average normal rainfall for the Nilgiris during the southwest monsoon in 842 mm, this monsoon, the Nilgiris recorded only 572 mm rainfall
OOTY: While the four-month-long southwest monsoon season that stretched between June and September, came to an end on Wednesday, the Nilgiris district as a whole recorded nearly 32 per cent deficit rainfall, while Ooty town limits recorded nearly 50 per cent deficit rainfall that amply vindicate how rain-parched the hills were this southwest monsoon.
Usually, the southwest monsoon would account for copious rainfall in the Nilgiris, especially in central and western Nilgiris, comprising Ooty, Kundah, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks.
While the average normal rainfall for the Nilgiris during the southwest monsoon in 842 mm, this monsoon, the Nilgiris recorded only 572 mm rainfall as per the IMD data that showed there was 32 per cent deficit of rainfall in the Nilgiris district.
Precipitation during the southwest monsoon is rather dismal in the Ooty town limits, the queen of hill stations, as Ooty received only 253 mm rainfall, against the normal 530 mm of average rainfall for the monsoon.
This would further indicate this hill town suffered due to the El-Nino effect this year which is said to be the reason why rainfall was erratic and insufficient.
The rainfall statistics showed that the southwest monsoon precipitation was lacking in uniformity as western Nilgiris received more rains than central Nilgiris. The only solace for the Ooty town limits is that the appreciable precipitation in Parson’s Valley reservoir limits, the major source for drinking water in this hill town, as it received good rainfall, more than the urban limits of
Ooty.
The water managers opine that the water level in the Parson’s Valley reservoir will help sustain water supply to the town.
Major reservoirs like Avalanche, Upper Bhavani and Emerald, which supports hydro-power generation, failed to fill up this southwest monsoon.
The Nilgiris is looking forward to even excess rainfall in the coming northeast monsoon season to compensate for the deficit rainfall during the southwest monsoon season.