When the south-west monsoon recedes on September 30, Kerala would have made up for most of its rainfall deficit.
On Sunday, the state recorded 100 mm of rainfall, which according to the Indian Meteorological Department, is the highest rainfall received in the month of September in the past five years.
Normally, the state receives maximum rainfall during the month of June and July. Although these months recorded more rainfall than September, the rainfall received on Sunday was the highest for the month in the last five years.
"From the morning of September 15 to the morning of September 16, the state average rainfall has been the highest for the month, when compared to the previous years," said IMD Kerala Director, Sudevan.
In mid-August, the state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had expressed concern over the south-west monsoon being 29.1% short in the state. However, IMD Director tells TNM that in the one month post-August 15, the state has made up for most of its rainfall deficit.
"We have already received 94% rainfall and is short by only 6%, which we hope to make up by the end of the month. The incessant rainfall from mid-August till now has helped tremendously. The south-west monsoon in Kerala has been vigorous," the director said.
From June 1 to September 18, the actual rainfall received in Kerala is 1746.8 mm, as opposed to 1925.3 mm of normal rainfall.
District-wise data
SL District Actual rainfall Normal rainfall Departure
1 Alappuzha 1478.19 mm 1622 mm -8.87 %
2 Ernakulam 1900.4 mm 1925.1 mm -1.288%
3 Idukki 1933.06 mm 2127.4 mm -9.14%
4 Kannur 2127.4 mm 2572.1 mm -15.55 %
5 Kasargod 2494.4 mm 2908.8 mm -14.25 %
6 Kollam 1258.5 mm 1220.9 mm 3.08 %
7 Kottayam 1787.58 mm 1774.4 mm 0.74 %
8 Kozhikode 2363.17 mm 2482.2 mm -4.8 %
9 Malappuram 1811 mm 1960.7 mm -7.63 %
10 Palakkad 1459.31 mm 1483.7 mm -1.64 %
11 Pathanamthitta 1671.9 mm 1587 mm 5.35 %
12 Thiruvananthapuram 683 mm 783.4 mm -12.82 %
13 Thrissur 1795.33 mm 2066 mm -13.1 %
14 Wayanad 1516.4 mm 2539.8 mm -40.29 %
Apart from Kerala, south-west monsoon has been vigorous in Vidarbha. In Kerala, the heaviest one-day rainfall in south-west monsoon of 2016 was recorded in Wayanad with 269 mm rainfall on June 29.
The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall till Tuesday in the state.
"Heavy rainfall (7-11cm in 24 hrs) is most likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala till the morning of 19th September 2017. Strong winds from Westerly direction speed occasionally reaching 45-55 kmph likely along and off Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area till 1400 IST on 19.09.2017," reads the weather forecast as on Monday.
According to the data available with IMD, the actual rainfall received across the country is 773.5 mm up to September 17. Of this, the South Peninsula, which includes Kerala, has received 640.5 mm of actual rainfall, as opposed to 637.8 mm of normal rainfall.
"This means that most of the southern states have received more than the normal rainfall," Sudevan explained.