Delayed monsoon last witnessed in 1983: Meteorological Department

PANAJI: After the state witnessed a delayed onset of monsoon this year, meteorologists have found out that a similar event was last recorded more than three decades ago.
“On June 20, 1983, there was a delayed onset of monsoon. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at Goa is currently comparing the data of both the years and studying the reasons for delay in monsoon onset in 1983. We have to observe, study and only then we can arrive at a conclusion,” said IMD director, K V Padgalwar.
IMD Goa has collected data from 1960 onwards from IMD Pune. The records, however, contain data mainly of Pune and not specifically of Goa. “When the monsoon arrives, it directly progresses to Pune. With this, we can attribute that the onset in Goa is also around the same time,” he said.
However, records available with IMD Goa further indicate that the most delayed monsoon over the west coast was in 1974, which was a drought year.
“The year 1974 witnessed a peculiar situation wherein the onset over Kerala took place four days earlier, but was delayed in Goa and Pune. Monsoon arrived early by four days in Kerala on May 26, but was recorded having arrived in Pune on June 28,” Padgalwar said.
IMD has issued an orange alert warning for Goa on Tuesday for June 27 to 29.
“Monsoon has already picked up, so any rain that comes now on will be very heavy. The trough that had developed last week, has now completely vanished but there must be a circulation in the South Maharashtra side of the Arabian Sea. Padgalwar said.