Date:09/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/09/stories/2003060904700400.htm

Southern States - Kerala

Good rain in northern districts

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 8. The long wait is over. The South-West Monsoon has finally set in over Kerala after a hesitant start.

The northen districts of the State received fairly good rain over the last 24 hours with Kozhikode airport recording the highest rainfall of 14 c.m. In the South, Alappuzha recorded 7 c.m. The southernmost districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, however, failed to receive the first showers today.

The MET Centre Director, M.D. Ramachandran, said though the onset of the South-West Monsoon was weak as expected, conditions were becoming increasingly favourable for its advance over the next two days.

As a result, the South and South interior areas of Karnataka are expected to receive good rain. The delayed onset was, however, not likely to affect the quantum of rainfall.

The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon, which had been initially weak, had already set in over the North Eastern States by Thursday. The South Westerly winds, which propel the monsoon over the South of the peninsula, took time to get established because of the delay in formation of an offshore trough in the Arabian Sea.

Mr. Ramachandran said this year's onset was similar to the phenomenon in 1995 when the monsoon hit the North Eastern region first and Kerala received the first rain only on June 8. He pointed out that the total rainfall was only six per cent below normal.

The IMD has predicted a rainfall of 96 per cent of the normal this year.

Mr. Ramachandran said the South West winds were picking up speed, favouring the advance of the monsoon. "The wind speed has touched 40 k.m. per hour, slightly below the normal of 50 to 60 k.m. per hour. It is expected to strengthen over the next few days creating conditions conducive to the advance of the monsoon. We expect the second pulse to bring good rain to the southern districts also,'' he said.