With just around 10 days left for the south-west monsoon season to end, the state has received 30 per cent excess rain and the Met Department expects the season’s rainfall to surpass the record of at least the past 15 years.
“As against the expected rainfall level of 192.5 cm, the state has already received over 250 cm of rain, which is an excess of 30 per cent from the normal,’’ S Sudevan, Director, Meteorological Centre here told Express.
“Going by the rainfall data, we can say that the state has not witnessed so much rainfall during the south-west monsoon season, at least in the past 15 years,’’ he said.
However, the heavy monsoon rain lashing the state for the last one week is expected to weaken by Friday.
“The upper air cyclonic circulation over north Bay of Bengal and central Maharashtra will weaken by September 20. Also, the wind direction will change from westerly to north westerly,’’ Sudevan said.
A district-wise analysis of the rainfall data shows that Idukki district has received the maximum rainfall — an excess of 51 per cent. This is good news for the state’s power sector as major hydel reservoirs are located in the district. Following Idukki is Kollam with 43 per cent excess rainfall and Kottayam with 42 per cent. Ten out the 14 districts have received excess rainfall while the remaining four districts recorded normal rainfall.
On Wednesday, Peermade in Idukki received 12 cm of rain followed by Palakkad with 8 cm and Munnar and Idukki with 7 cm each. The Department has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in the state till Friday. “Fishermen have been warned as strong onshore winds from north-westerly direction is likely along the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep,’’ it said.