Rainfall distribution skewed in State, with deficiency in Malnad, south-interior parts

The southwest monsoon shows skewed distribution pattern with deficiency in Malnad region, apart from Mysuru-Chamarajanagar belt for the period June 1 to August 5, while it is normal for the rest of the State.

The southwest monsoon shows skewed distribution pattern with deficiency in Malnad region, apart from Mysuru-Chamarajanagar belt for the period June 1 to August 5, while it is normal for the rest of the State.

While the entire State was under the deficient category till mid-July, heavy to very heavy rain for almost 10 days since the second week of July bridged the deficiency. As a result, the average rainfall for the entire State is 12 per cent below long period average (LPA).

But under the Indian Meteorological Department parameters, a variation in the rainfall from 19% below LPA to 19% above LPA is considered normal.

As against 514 mm of rainfall which is normal for the period, the State has received 452 mm. Though the State has received 12% below LPA for the period June 1 to August 5, it is categorised as normal rains, according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

But the distribution is skewed within the State and the average figures paint a wrong picture. The entire belt comprising Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga have received rainfall 19% below LPA and hence are in the deficient category. Besides these districts, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Urban, Chickballapur, Ballari, and Bagalkot are the other districts where rainfall is under the deficient category.

Mysuru has received 176 mm of rainfall which is 25% below normal while Chamarajanagar has received 96 mm and is 29% below normal. Similarly, Kodagu which is the catchment area for the Cauvery has received 953 mm of rainfall which is 37% below normal.

Rainfall in Hassan (340 mm), Chikkamagaluru (662 mm), and Shivamogga (1,031 mm) too have been categorised under deficient category and the rainfall is 26%, 31%, and 24% below normal in the three districts respectively.