The northeast monsoon is on a roll in Kerala. As of Wednesday, as it neared the halfway mark, the 2019 edition has showered an excess of 40% over the State.
During the period, the Lakshadweep islands received 156% excess rainfall.
Much of the credit, weather experts say, goes to the back-to-back cyclonic storms Kyarr and Maha which, tearing westward across the Arabian Sea, acted as boosters.
Large excess
Kerala received 556.3 mm rainfall between October 1 and November 13 against 396.6 mm during the same period last year, which is considered normal.
Four districts — Kannur, Ernakulam, Kasaragod and Kozhikode — recorded ‘large excess’ rainfall, having received over 65% in excess of the normal precipitation for the period.
Lakshadweep received 540.4 mm against the normal 211.4 mm.
This year, the northeast monsoon had set in over Kerala on October 16.
While a 40% excess is not exactly a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence, it is not that frequent either. In 2018, the northeast monsoon had a normal run, recording -3% (’normal’ defines rainfall between -19% and +19%) between October 1 and December 31.
In 2010
Copious rainfall was received in 2010 when the NE monsoon ended its run with 66% excess rainfall.
Excess NE monsoon rainfall was recorded in 2006 (18%) and 2002 (31%) and for three years in 1997 (31%), 1998 (30%) and 1999 (23%), K. Santhosh, director, IMD Meteorological Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, said.
“October is known as the cyclone month. During October and November, low pressure areas, depressions and cyclones make their presence felt in the Arabian Sea,” he said.
This year, the southwest monsoon season, which accounts for the major portion of the rainfall received by the State, had a normal run.
