June 2014 has entered the record books with the third lowest rainfall recorded in the month since 1971, whence IMD Goa started systematically recording the rainfall data for Panaji. Earlier data was maintained at Mumbai or Pune and unfortunately is not easily available at Goa.
Panaji recorded just 460.8 mm of rainfall in June 2014 as against a normal of 889.8 mm, a whopping shortfall of 48%. The lowest rainfall of 401.1 mm was recorded at Panaji in 1993 and 447.2 mm in 1991. In 2013 Panaji had recorded 697 mm.
However rainfall recorded at Panaji doesn't reflect the rainfall received in other parts of Goa.
From 2014 onwards, IMD Goa has started keeping records for Goa taking Area Weighted Averages for North Goa and South Goa and arriving at a much better rainfall picture for the state.
Accordingly as of 0830 hrs on July 1, 2014 the area weighted Rainfall for Goa from June 1, 2014 was 487 mm against a normal of 953 mm, a shortfall of 49%!
The monsoon onset was delayed and officially the SW Monsoons set in Goa on June 11 this year. Over the next 13 days the rains were good but for the development of the cyclone Na Nauk in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Goa, which veered towards Oman. It took with it the moisture over Arabian Sea and disturbed the wind pattern leading to the dry period which continues into July 2014.
The daily rainfall recorded at Margao - Goa, is typical of the pattern experienced this year.
The heaviest rains were recorded on June 17 and June 20 when Margao recorded 143.8 mm and 110.3 mm respectively. But zero rainfall was recorded on 12 days, including continuously since June 25 till date.
IMD records rainfall at thirteen rain stations spread all over Goa from Pernem in the North to Canacona in the South and Valpoi in the west at the base of the Western Ghats. From these Canacona has topped the list with maximum rainfall in June 2014 at 671.2 mm , a whopping 210.4 mm more than Panaji, and the difference being also more than the entire rainfall for June for most of the cities and towns of north Konkan including Mumbai! Margao came close second with 634.2 mm, which is surprising considering that it is just 34 km from Panaji with similar terrain! Sanguem in the South completed the troika of towns with rainfall more than 600 mm! At the bottom, Mapusa came last with just 366.8 mm rainfall in June, nearly 100 mm lower than Panaji just 15 kms away!
Goa receives most of its rains in July and with the monsoon expected to revive in Goa in the first week of July, let's hope the impact of the deficient rains of June is reduced!
Interesting to watch will be the battle of numbers to finish on top between Margao and Panjim and between Valpoi, Canacona and Sanguem!
Anybody for predicting the outcome?
Keep watching this blog for the results!!
Panaji recorded just 460.8 mm of rainfall in June 2014 as against a normal of 889.8 mm, a whopping shortfall of 48%. The lowest rainfall of 401.1 mm was recorded at Panaji in 1993 and 447.2 mm in 1991. In 2013 Panaji had recorded 697 mm.
However rainfall recorded at Panaji doesn't reflect the rainfall received in other parts of Goa.
From 2014 onwards, IMD Goa has started keeping records for Goa taking Area Weighted Averages for North Goa and South Goa and arriving at a much better rainfall picture for the state.
Accordingly as of 0830 hrs on July 1, 2014 the area weighted Rainfall for Goa from June 1, 2014 was 487 mm against a normal of 953 mm, a shortfall of 49%!
The monsoon onset was delayed and officially the SW Monsoons set in Goa on June 11 this year. Over the next 13 days the rains were good but for the development of the cyclone Na Nauk in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Goa, which veered towards Oman. It took with it the moisture over Arabian Sea and disturbed the wind pattern leading to the dry period which continues into July 2014.
The daily rainfall recorded at Margao - Goa, is typical of the pattern experienced this year.
The heaviest rains were recorded on June 17 and June 20 when Margao recorded 143.8 mm and 110.3 mm respectively. But zero rainfall was recorded on 12 days, including continuously since June 25 till date.
IMD records rainfall at thirteen rain stations spread all over Goa from Pernem in the North to Canacona in the South and Valpoi in the west at the base of the Western Ghats. From these Canacona has topped the list with maximum rainfall in June 2014 at 671.2 mm , a whopping 210.4 mm more than Panaji, and the difference being also more than the entire rainfall for June for most of the cities and towns of north Konkan including Mumbai! Margao came close second with 634.2 mm, which is surprising considering that it is just 34 km from Panaji with similar terrain! Sanguem in the South completed the troika of towns with rainfall more than 600 mm! At the bottom, Mapusa came last with just 366.8 mm rainfall in June, nearly 100 mm lower than Panaji just 15 kms away!
Goa receives most of its rains in July and with the monsoon expected to revive in Goa in the first week of July, let's hope the impact of the deficient rains of June is reduced!
Interesting to watch will be the battle of numbers to finish on top between Margao and Panjim and between Valpoi, Canacona and Sanguem!
Anybody for predicting the outcome?
Keep watching this blog for the results!!
