VISAKHAPATNAM: The state received less-than-expected rainfall during the southwest monsoon season as on date. While rainfall in July and August was not up to expectations, in September,
AP received more-than-expected rainfall in the first 15 days.
According to statistics available from the state government, AP received 441 mm of rainfall from June 1 to September 15 against the expected rainfall of 471.4 mm. In September as on date, it received 72.1 mm of rainfall against the expected 68.1 mm. In August, it received only 88.2 mm of rainfall against 158.3 mm, while in July it was only 121.8 mm against the expected 151.3 mm.
Districts like Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Prakasham, Guntur and Kurnool received rainfall more than the expected rate, while the remaining districts received rainfall below the expected level. Visakhapatnam received 651.2 mm of rainfall against the expected 609.7 mm. Guntur received more rainfall this time at 504.4 mm of rainfall than the expected 441 mm.
Srikakulam
and Nellore districts fell short of expectations. Srikakulam received only 476.8 mm of rainfall against the expected of 603.1 mm of rainfall by this time. Similarly, Nellore received only 148.9 mm of rainfall as against the normal of 271.3 mm.
Weathermen attributed the fall of rainfall below expectation in most areas to various reasons including non-formation of favourable rain pulling systems like troughs, low pressures, upper air-cyclonic circulations among others.
"The activeness of southwest monsoon in September in association with a low pressure over Bay of Bengal brought rains without damaging properties. This played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the actual and normal or expected rainfall rate of the state. The rainfall activity would further increase in coming days," said Prof CV
Naidu
from department of meteorology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.
On the other hand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its weather bulletin stated that the southwest monsoon has been active over the state for the last few days. This apart, an upper air cyclonic circulation also lied over west-central Bay of Bengal off north coastal
Andhra Pradesh extending up to 0.9 km above mean sea level. The state would receive moderate to heavy rainfall in the next few days, it stated.