Northeast monsoon arrives, soaks Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: It’s official. The southwest monsoon (SWM) has finally withdrawn from the entire country, with the northeast monsoon (NEM) finally sweeping into south India and finally bringing in its wake good rains that Vizag has been thirsting for. The southwest monsoons this year left Vizag pretty much high and dry.
The first showers of the northeast monsoon left many low lying areas in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits inundated with rainwater.In particular, the roads at Jagadamba Centre, Kobbaritotha, Poorna Market, Suryabagh, Maharanipeta and Burujupeta were completely submerged thanks to one of the rare downpours in the city.
On day one of the onset of the northeast monsoon, the city (Waltair) received 31.4 mm of rainfall, while Vizag airport received 25 mm of rainfall till 5.30 pm on Monday. The temperature levels too were lower with maximum temperature at 31.4 degree Celsius in Waltair and 32 degree Celsius at the airport against the normal levels of around 34 degree Celsius.
Overall this year, the city received 43.3 mm of pre-monsoon (January to May) rainfall, 487.8 mm of southwest monsoon (June to September) rainfall and 118.1 mm of northeast monsoon rainfall (from October 1 to October 21 evening 5.30 pm). Similarly, Vizag airport received 18.7 mm of pre-monsoon, 448.5 mm of southwest monsoon and 67.3 mm of northeast monsoon (till 5.30 pm of October 21).