Karnataka monsoon: June sees 8% more rainfall; south interior districts register huge shortfall

The crucial southwest monsoon, which arrived earlier than usual this year, saw 8% surplus rainfall in Karnataka as a whole in June. However, some districts, especially those under the south-interior Karnataka (SIK) meteorological division, witnessed huge shortfalls, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru.

Most surplus

Belagavi district in the north-interior Karnataka (NIK) meteorological subdivision received the most surplus rainfall with a 98% departure from normal, while on the other end of the spectrum was Bengaluru South district (formerly Ramanagara), with a -74% departure from normal.

Among the districts under the SIK, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davangere, Kodagu, and Vijayanagara received excess rainfall. On the other hand, Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Chamarajanagar, Chickballapur, Hassan, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru recorded deficient rainfall, apart from Bengaluru South.

All the districts under the coastal Karnataka subdivision — Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and Udupi — received good rainfall in June. In NIK, apart from Belagavi, Dharwad saw excess rainfall, with a 46% departure from normal. Yadgir had the largest deficiency in this subdivision, with -45% departure from normal.

Subdivision-wise, though, all three recorded normal to surplus rainfall: Coastal Karnataka had an 8% departure from normal, NIK 17%, and SIK 3%.

Overall normal

C.S. Patil, scientist and director, IMD Bengaluru, said, “The south-interior Karnataka districts have received less rainfall, but overall the rainfall is normal for June. The western districts have received good rainfall, especially the hilly and coastal districts.”

In line with the forecast for July for India, Mr. Patil said the rainfall was expected to increase overall for the State this month. The IMD has forecast that monsoon rainfall in July will be ‘above normal,’ while June-September will also be 6% above normal.

Absence of El Nino

Mrutunjay Mohapatra, Director-General, IMD, had said on Monday that the strong rainfall expected ahead is largely due to the absence of an El Nino pattern. The IMD had also said that the monsoon rainfall in June for India has been 8.9% more than usual, and except for eastern and northeastern India, most regions have seen surplus rains. South India, though, recorded a shortfall of about 3%.