After maintaining a six-year streak of normal or surplus rainfall since 2019, Tamil Nadu is likely to record slightly below-normal rainfall during the Northeast monsoon this year, with scattered rainfall marking the final two days before the official end of the season.
As the monsoon’s lull phase continues over the State, dry weather has prolonged over most parts, and the State did not record any rainfall on Monday too. Tamil Nadu has so far recorded 42.7 cm, which is 3% lower than the seasonal average of 43.8 cm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) considers deficit or surplus rainfall up to 19% as normal.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), a trough in the Easterlies running over the southeast Bay of Bengal would influence mild rainfall particularly over south Tamil Nadu and districts along Western Ghats on Tuesday. Isolated rainfall may occur over the State until January 4.
B. Amudha, Head (Additional in-charge), RMC, said the monsoon is in a weak and dry phase. Isolated showers of light to moderate intensity are expected over the next few days. While IMD considers December 31 as the official end of the NE monsoon, weather conditions are being monitored to declare its withdrawal from the region. The monsoon rainfall has spilled over into January in previous years.
