Driest September in 17 years sends |
There are concerns over the cotton crop in Gujarat`s main Saurashtra belt, which is in boll formation and flowering stage. The southwest monsoon has slipped into deficit in its final lap, after an overall decent run during the first three months of the season. The country as a whole has, as on September 19, cumulatively received an average area-weighted rainfall of 750.5 mm during the current monsoon season from June 1. This is 10.1 per cent below the historical long-term average of 834.5 mm for the same period, making it a “below normal” monsoon. That, as per the India Meteorological Department`s (IMD) definition, refers to rainfall deficiency exceeding 10 per cent of the long-period average. The slippage has happened only this month. The all-India average rainfall was well within the “normal” departure range of 10 per cent in June, July and August. In the current month, though, the rains have so far been almost a third lower than the historical average. If the trend holds, this September would turn out to be the driest in 17 years. Interestingly, even Kerala — which recorded above average precipitation of 15.4 per cent in June, 18.1 per cent in July and 95.9 per cent in August — has received a mere 8.8 mm of rain this month till September 19.
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