Torrential rains during the week in Mysuru and surrounding regions is in keeping with the region’s climatic conditions if the data of the last 40 years is any indication.
May and October are the wettest months in the region, and not June or July when the south-west monsoon sets in.
The city received 57.33 mm of rain on Sunday. C. Govindaraju of the Naganahalli Organic Farming Research Station, which is monitors local weather conditions, told The Hindu that the rainfall was not isolated or scattered but was intense and uniform across the district.
However, he pointed out that Mysuru receives maximum amount of rainfall during May and again during September and October. Though the south-west monsoon sets in the first week of June and gains intensity by July across the State, rainfall tends to taper off during June and July in Mysuru region. The mean monthly rainfall for May is 143.7 mm while it is 132 mm for September and 162.4 mm for October. The mean monthly rainfall for June is 84.4 mm and it is 84.8 mm for July.
Meanwhile, agricultural activity in the region is gaining momentum due to intense rains and Joint Director of Agriculture Mahanteshappa said that against an average of 155.4 mm of rainfall during the period from January to May 18, the district had received 240.1 mm of rainfall.
There has been no crop damage due to incessant rains so far, but if the weather pattern persists for a few more days, excess moisture could damage cotton, turmeric, coffee and pulses. The Indian Meteorology Department has forecast rain and thunderstorm during the next two days and the maximum temperature recorded on Monday was 31.5º C, which is 2º C below normal for the month.
