India sees lowest August rainfall in a century; September is likely to be ‘normal’: IMD

Subject: Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context:

Rainfall in August had been the least in over a century, with India getting 36% less rain than it usually does in the month.

What was the usual trend?

Of the four monsoon months, August usually sees the most amount of rainfall (25.4 cm) after July’s 28 cm.
The rainfall was deficient in the whole part of India except in northeastern India, the Himalayan States, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Earlier in August 2005, shortfall was about 25% of the normal, and in August 2009, shortfall was about 24% of the normal.
There is an increasing trend in the break days (of Break in Monsoon).
- Break days refer to rainless stretches during the monsoon months of June-September.

Regional analysis:

Rainfall in August has brought the overall national deficit to 10%, with the regional deficits being:
- 17% in east and northeast India,
- 10% in central India, and
- 17% in southern India.
Monsoon rainfall in September, the last of the four monsoon months, is likely to be within a 10% window of the 16.7 cm that’s usual for the month.

Probable reason for rainfall deficit: