Late Monsoon Reduces Kerala’s Rain Deficit; Orange Alert Issued for 3 Districts on August 19

Fast Summary:

• Two consecutive low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal helped reduce Kerala’s rain deficit in August.
• Early August saw reduced rainfall, leading to a 16% deficit by mid-month.
• The late surge of intense rainfall brought this deficit down to 12%, with Kerala recording 1,416.5 mm of rain until August 18 against an average of 1,603.7 mm for the monsoon period.
• Scattered heavy rains are predicted to continue due to a well-marked low-pressure area over west-central bay of Bengal and adjoining coasts (south Odisha-north andhra Pradesh).
• The indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts the system will strengthen into a depression within 12 hours and impact northern and central Kerala with additional heavy spells in coming days.
• orange alerts for very heavy rains issued for Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad; yellow alerts issued for Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Idukki districts by IMD.

indian Opinion Analysis:
Kerala’s ability to minimize its monsoon rain deficit through late-season weather activity showcases nature’s unpredictable behavior during critical agricultural months across India. While recent intense rainfall has temporarily improved conditions for farmers reliant on monsoons in these regions-most notably those in northern districts-sustained patterns may still be needed throughout September to bridge gaps completely from earlier shortfalls. Continued vigilance is essential not only due to potential flooding risks during orange-alert periods but also considering broader implications toward water resource planning amid irregular rainfall dynamics observed nationwide this season.

Read More: Published – August 18