Kerala records 60 per cent rainfall deficit, lowest in 5 years

According to meteorological scientist, Dr Abhilash of Cochin University, the lack of winds in the South-West direction is the main cause of the reduction in Monsoon rains.

Kozhikode:Kerala has recorded the lowest rainfall during the beginning of the monsoon in the last five years till June 15. Kerala has only recorded 109.7 millimetres of rain till June 15, against 343.7 mm in 2018, 175.4 mm in 2019, 230 mm in 2020, and 161.1 mm in 2021.

Lower monsoon rains in Kerala could mean a serious rain deficit in the states that depend on the South-West Monsoon for their water needs. According to meteorological scientist, Dr Abhilash of Cochin University, the lack of winds in the South-West direction is the main cause of the reduction in Monsoon rains. "There should be winds at the speeds above 40 km per hour in the South-West directions to bring rains. The winds gather speed due to the formation of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal but this time there are no low-pressure formations in the Bay of Bengal and hence no winds," Abhilash said.

Till June 15, there was a deficit of 60 per cent in the monsoon rains. If the situation prevails, there will be much lesser rains during June which could adversely affect the farmer community. The winds carry the monsoon clouds from the Arabian sea to the southwest side of India. Though the monsoon has arrived in Maharashtra, the rainfall has been considerably low. Meteorologists now hope that the situation may change as the monsoon progresses and the present deficit could be neutralised in the coming months.