AP monsoon above normal for 4th yr, state saw 10% excess rain in 2022

Visakhapatnam: The southwest monsoon (1 June to 30 September) ended on Friday after recording over 10% surplus rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, making 2022 an above-normal season. This is the fourth consecutive year that Andhra Pradesh's monsoon has been in the above-normal category.

The southwest monsoon arrived in Andhra Pradesh on 13 June this year, a week later than its usual date of arrival. This year, most parts of the state received good rainfall throughout the season, except in June.

4 districts saw deficit rains

Sagili Karunasagar, a scientist of IMD-Amaravati, said Andhra Pradesh recorded a total of 575.5 mm rainfall between 1 June and 30 September in 2022 (officially called as southwest monsoon period), which is over 10% more than the normal of 521.6 mm. Despite this, four districts—Prakasam, Krishna, Guntur, and Visakhapatnam—saw deficit rainfall during the period. Prakasam recorded a deficit of 11%, Krishna and Guntur districts a deficit of 4% each, and Visakhapatnam reported rain deficit of 2%.

The remaining districts in the state received extra rainfall, said Karunasagar. Anantapur reported 58% excess rain followed by West Godavari district with 32%, East Godavari district 25%, Vizianagaram district 17%, and Chittoor district 13%, he further added.

The IMD said Andhra Pradesh recorded 613.3 mm of rainfall between 1 June and 30 September in 2021 (southwest monsoon period), which is around 19% more than the normal of 514 mm. In 2020, the state had recorded 738.2 mm rainfall between 1 June and 30 September, which is around 44% more than the normal of 514 mm. Officials of the agriculture and horticulture departments said a good monsoon ensures a bountiful harvest of paddy and other commercial crops, which in turn helps put a lid on the increasing prices of vegetables and rice.

Northeast monsoon to be normal

The northeast monsoon (October to December) rainfall over south peninsular India consisting of five meteorological sub-divisions (Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Kerala, and south interior Karnataka) is most likely to be normal in the range of 88-112% of long period average (LPA).

The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from over eight states in the country. The normal date for the completion of monsoon withdrawal from the country is 15 October. Based on the weather models, the IMD said the chances of cyclones making landfall near north Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and even Bangladesh are higher between October and December. Andhra Pradesh may experience rains till December, the weathermen predicted.

Key Points

· The normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon in AP is 514 mm.

· La Nina is a very key factor for four continuous normal to above-normal monsoons in AP.

· La Nina may extend up to 2023.