CHENNAI: The Northeast Monsoon season has officially drawn to a close on Wednesday, with a dismal 17 cm rainfall realised as against the normal 43 cm, during the period that began on October 1.
In its weather bulletin, the Regional Meteorological Centre said the NEM rains have ceased over TN and Puducherry. “In view of the prevailing dry weather over south-east peninsular India and other atmospheric changes, the monsoon rains have stopped,” a met official said.
The monsoon had a delayed onset, with the rains commencing in the State only on October 30. Normally, it must have been at least 10 days earlier by October 20. The rains which started on a disappointing note never picked up for the next months, as all the districts recorded deficient rainfall.
Despite its belated arrival and sluggish start, the weather department initially stuck to its long range forecast issued in September, which stated that rains will likely be normal within 90-100 percent of the long period average. The State receives about 438 mm of rain during the three monsoon months from October to December. Chennai district also suffered from a deficit rainfall of 57 per cent.