With 52mm rainfall, this April was Goa’s wettest in 85 years

PANAJI: Not only was this April Goa’s wettest in over eight decades, it received 52mm of rain, almost seven times the normal value of 7.5mm. A scientist with India meteorological department, Panaji, Rahul M, said that this April was the sixth-wettest ever, and the wettest in 85 years, as per available data.
The highest recorded rainfall for an April in Goa was 229mm in 1937 while higher rainfall was recorded on five other occasions in April. “The state initially had only two stations reporting rainfall, and these gradually increased to 13 in recent years,” said Rahul M.
TOI had reported that the state witnessed short spells of heavy pre-monsoon rainfall along with gusty winds, thunder and lightning. A lot of property damage was reported, as trees were uprooted during the storm.
The mercury also rose significantly during the month. At Panaji, IMD recorded the highest maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees C on April 22. This is the eighth-highest for April in the city; the 39.8 degrees C recorded on April 7, 1989, is the highest so far.
The mercury rose over 35 degrees C for three days in Panaji during April 2022. The rise in temperature exceeding 35°C for more than a day or two in April has become a regular feature and the highest number of such days was in April 2010 when it exceeded 35 for nine days.
The minimum temperature in the city rose over 27 degrees C on four days in April 2022. In comparison, April 1973 was unusually warm, as IMD Panaji recorded a minimum temperature above 27 for 18 days.