With 22.4 mm, Chennai records lowest rainfall in October in the last 98 years

Weather bloggers say that the city recorded just 22.4 mm of rain last month, which is the fifth lowest in October in the last 200 years. Meenambakkam recorded just 5.9 mm and it is the worst since the record began in 1951.

S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, said “There is a 63 per cent departure, when compared to the normal standards for October.” 

Weather blogger Pradeep John said the reason for low rainfall could be due to the active typhoon activity in the South China Sea. 

Hope has started to sprout among Delta farmers who went for direct sowing as the monsoon has progressed steadily in the district. However, farmers are worried that the rain should not turn torrential as it may submerge the transplanted nurseries. 

While most of the areas in Delta districts received good rain on Sunday, moderate showers continued for the second day on Monday. “The widespread moderate rain in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam will certainly recharge the ground water level and benefit the farmers who undertook cultivation through water sourced from borewells,” said Arupathy P Kalyanam, General Secretary of Federation of Farmers Association. 

Despite the setting in of monsoon, the rainfall so far is less than last year. Meanwhile, the farmers expressed satisfaction with the moderate rain but at the same time, they were anxious about the heavy rains that may follow which would submerge the nurseries. “The rains will be beneficial for the directly sown crops which were transplanted a few days ago. We have to wait and watch how it proceeds,” added Arupathy Kalyanam. 

Down south, most of the districts experienced heavy rains. In Theni district, a tank suffered a big breach in Periyakulam and as a result water entered several houses in nearby areas and 20 goats died drowned in a far. In Madurai district, Andipatti received the highest rainfall of 132 mm followed by Vadipatti at 116 mm. In Dindigul district Kodaikanal witnessed continuous downpour on Monday morning. Natham, Oddanchathram, Palani and Vedachandur received good rainfall.

Rain lashed Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil districts too. Dams in Tirunelveli received heavy downpour.