State received 50 pc less rainfall in June, says Met dept

BENGALURU: The month of June is coming to an end, and farmers who were waiting for the monsoon rains have been disappointed as this time, the monsoon has failed. The India Meteorological Department has delivered bitter news that June rainfall has been much below normal, and rain is expected to remain low for the next two months as well.

Last year, there were heavy rains and farmers in the state, who were expecting a good monsoon this June, had planned to engage in agricultural activities. But they have been let down by the lack of rain, and the Meteorological Department has warned that monsoon rainfall this time will be 50 per cent less than normal.

In June, rainfall across the entire state has decreased significantly compared to the normal amount. This time, rainfall in June is below normal across the state, including Bengaluru. In Bengaluru, total normal rainfall in June should be 56.5 mm, but up to June 20, only 45.9 mm of rain has been recorded.

Rainfall Deficit

Coastal Karnataka
Normal rain: 418 mm
Actual rain: 191 mm
Rainfall deficit: 54 per cent

Malnad region
Normal rain: 178 mm
Actual rain: 89 mm
Rainfall deficit: 50 per cent

North Interior Karnataka
Normal rain: 63 mm
Actual rain: 53 mm
Rainfall deficit: 16 per cent

South Interior Karnataka
Normal rain: 48 mm
Actual rain: 44 mm
Rainfall deficit: 10 per cent.

Further, compared to last week, there is a chance of more rain in coastal and Malnad regions after June 24, and rain may pick up slightly in South Interior and North Interior regions too, but there is no chance of rainfall reaching normal levels. Along with that, rainfall across the entire state will remain low for the next two months and even the post-monsoon rains will be less, making the rain deficit evident for farmers, said weather expert C S Patil, scientist, at the Meteorological Department.

Moreover, no weather systems have formed in the Bay of Bengal leading to monsoon deficit, and water temperatures have also increased, weakening the monsoon winds. Because of this, rainfall will be less, he said.