Too much yet too little July rain reflects climate change dynamics in Goa

PANAJI: A bumper rainfall of 1,047.3mm in 14 days that triggered the worst floods in 40 years may have made July 2021 the wettest month in decades. In the end, however, it turned out to be the second wettest after July 2019.
It was one prolonged spell that produced 122% more rain than the normal of 471mm. But the monsoon graph dipped drastically during the other half, as the rest of the 17 days produced only 233.5mm of rain.
The extremely heavy rainfall for a fortnight that left a scar in the memories of flood victims is part of climate change dynamics, meteorologists say . “Erratic rainfall with prolonged active or break spells are bad for agriculture, drinking water and water harvesting systems,” meteorologist M R Ramesh Kumar said.
On Saturday, the monthly total rain touched 1,280.8mm, as compared to 1315.4mm in July 2019, while 1,068.9mm rain is normal for July. In July 2013, the peak month of the season had produced a record 1,387.8mm rainfall.
Eighty-two percent of the average rainfall in July was from July 10-23. Valpoi recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall of 296mm as per available data of the past 12 years. Pernem recorded 294mm in July 2012,” IMD scientist Rahul M, said. Overall, the monsoon has witnessed a 1% deficit across India, but Goa had an excess of 14% till July 31. The systems which bring copious rainfall into central and northern India were absent, Kumar said.