PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

NORMAL NORTH-EAST MONSOON EXPECTED

                                                                              Thiruvananthapuram, October 21, 2005
          

  As per available signals Kerala would get normal North East Monsoon (Thula Varsham) this year according to Shri K Santhosh, Head of the Meteorological Centre, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala received normal North East Monsoon rainfall during last 10 years except the years 1995 and 2000. This year, North east Monsoon has set in over Kerala on 12th October.  This is the first time since 1997 that it arrived over the State before 15th October.  In 1997, it had set it on October 13th.  Since then the onset has been in the second half of October or early November.  

          

The onset of North east monsoon is marked by the formation of low pressure system over Bay of Bengal and its intensification.  As a result, moisture bearing winds  blowing from North East (hence the name North East Monsoon)  enters the east coast of India giving copious rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Parts of Karnataka and Kerala.  Afternoon thundershowers are the notable feature of North East Monsoon Season .   During the current onset phase, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls occurred over Kerala on 12th, 13th & 14th October under the influence of an intense low pressure area over the South West Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu Coast coupled with a similar system over South east Arabian Sea off Kerala coast.

          

  The North East (NE) Monsoon season which spans from October to December is the second highest rain giving season of Kerala after Southwest Monsoon.    Alternatively called “ Thulavarsham” in Malayalam, it constitutes about 16% of the annual rainfall of 310 cm.  
            During this season, Kerala receives 50 cm. of rainfall.  Rainfall pattern is such that southern districts tend to receive more rainfall than districts towards north.  Idukki receives the highest rainfall of 64 cm. where as Kasaragod receives half of it which is only 32 cm.  Apart from Idukki, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts also receive more than 60 cm of rainfall during the season.
             Performance of North East Monsoon over Kerala for the last 10 years is given.  

          

             

In meteorological parlance rainfall received in the range – 19% to +19% of the normal value is considered as normal rainfall and any value more than +19% is considered excess.  Hence it is evident from the table that Kerala received normal North East Monsoon rainfall during last 10 years except the years 1995 and 2000.

    GM/DP E2