Dist to get normal rainfall during NE monsoon

Coimbatore: If the forecast by weather experts are anything to go by, the district would receive normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon. They said there was so far no sign of the monsoon getting delayed.

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) said the district would receive anywhere between 300mm and 350mm rainfall. The normal rainfall the district sees is 305mm. TNAU also said the monsoon would set in by October 20.

“Our forecast has a 60% probability. We arrived at our prediction based on the study of the southern oscillation index and sea surface temperature values of the pacific and Indian oceans using Australian Rainman International software,” said Geethalakshmi, director of crop management, TNAU. “The numbers can vary 19% either way.”

According to the prediction, the district would receive more than 600mm rainfall this year. The district had received 310mm rainfall during the southwest monsoon, 100mm more than the normal 210mm it usually receives. Of this, 130mm rainfall was received in a single day on August 9.

Farmers are likely to be relieved after the forecast of a normal monsoon. R Karthikeyan, a farmer from Thondamuthur, said, “While the deficit monsoon initially delayed our summer cultivation to a large extent, the excessive rainfall in August led to a lot of small onion and vegetable farms getting inundated. Good rains are that which equally distributes itself over an entire season, so the soil remains moist and weather is controlled.”

Scientists in their advisory said the soil was moist currently due to the rain in August and groundwater levels have been recharged. “We recommend the farmers to start sowing immediately,” Geethalakshmi said.

The neighbouring districts of Tirupur, Erode and Nilgiris too are likely to receive normal rainfall, she said. “While Nilgiris is likely to receive 475mm rainfall, Tirupur and Erode may get more than 300mm and 320mm rainfall, respectively,” she said.


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