Heavy to very heavy record downpour in the last 6 days of August was the highlight of the rains in August 2014 in Goa. The rains wiped out the rainfall deficiency, yielded 50 to more than 60% of the total rains for the month and created flooding in low lying areas of many towns and villages of Goa.
The deficiency which was -49% in June '14 and -17% in July '14 turned positive to +1% with Area weighted total rains from June 1 to Aug 31, 2014 measuring 2721.4 mm ( 107.14 inches) against a normal of 2691.5 mm (105.96 inches).
Seasonal rainfall at Panjim, which IMD had been giving out as Goa's rainfall, before the present system of Area weighted average started also showed a similar trend:
South Goa recorded more rainfall than North Goa in August 2014, with Sanguem receiving the highest rainfall.
In fact Goa as a whole received more rainfall in August 2014 than in August 2013, as seen the comparison for top five wet places in Goa (Rainfall figures in inches):
At the end of August 2014, Valpoi continues to remain the wettest, but for how long into September before Sanguem overtakes it will be interesting to watch! The ranking as on August 31, 2014 is as below:
In fact Panjim received a record rainfall of 228.7 mm (9 inches) in 24 hr period ending 0830 hrs on August 30, just missing by a whisker the record for highest one day rainfall in August set on August 1, 1981 with 242 mm. However it was the highest in a decade and wreaked havoc in low lying areas of Panjim and Taleigao with flooding, mud slides and house collapses. Fortunately no loss of life was reported.
The deficiency which was -49% in June '14 and -17% in July '14 turned positive to +1% with Area weighted total rains from June 1 to Aug 31, 2014 measuring 2721.4 mm ( 107.14 inches) against a normal of 2691.5 mm (105.96 inches).
Seasonal rainfall at Panjim, which IMD had been giving out as Goa's rainfall, before the present system of Area weighted average started also showed a similar trend:
South Goa recorded more rainfall than North Goa in August 2014, with Sanguem receiving the highest rainfall.
In fact Goa as a whole received more rainfall in August 2014 than in August 2013, as seen the comparison for top five wet places in Goa (Rainfall figures in inches):
At the end of August 2014, Valpoi continues to remain the wettest, but for how long into September before Sanguem overtakes it will be interesting to watch! The ranking as on August 31, 2014 is as below:
Comparative figures for top 5 stations over last year are as below:
However this excellent performance in August was characterized by a 13 days monsoon break like period from August 12 to August 24, with extended sunshine and day's high climbing to 32-33 C, +4C above normal! This is brought out clearly in the daily rain chart for Margao:
But the intensely heavy rainfall which started on August 26 and continued till August 31 contributed to 50 to 60% of the month's total rainfall in just 6 days:
In fact Panjim received a record rainfall of 228.7 mm (9 inches) in 24 hr period ending 0830 hrs on August 30, just missing by a whisker the record for highest one day rainfall in August set on August 1, 1981 with 242 mm. However it was the highest in a decade and wreaked havoc in low lying areas of Panjim and Taleigao with flooding, mud slides and house collapses. Fortunately no loss of life was reported.
So we enter September on a happy note as the rainfall deficiency has been wiped out. Let's see what September has in store!
