Southwest monsoon off to a better start in Karnataka after drought in 2023

While Coastal Karnataka had a 50% departure from normal, the figure for North Interior Karnataka was 55%, and for South Interior Karnataka, the figure was 56%. 

Following poor rainfall in 2023, the crucial southwest monsoon season in Karnataka has got off to a good start in its first month in 2024. 

From June 1 to June 28, while the three meteorological sub-divisions reported deficiency in rainfall, the overall departure from normal for Karnataka as a whole was nil. The State received 184.8 mm versus the normal 184.4 mm. 

This is good news in comparison to a drought-hit 2023, when, between June 1 and 30, there was a 53% departure from normal in Karnataka. All Met sub-divisions had recorded large deficiencies in 2023.

While Coastal Karnataka had a 50% departure from normal, the figure for North Interior Karnataka was 55%, and for South Interior Karnataka, the figure was 56%. 

Following a poor spell of the southwest monsoon in 2023, many parts of Karnataka, including the capital Bengaluru, went through a water crisis in the summer of 2024.

In 2022, the departure from normal in June (30 days) was 19% while the corresponding figure in 2021 was 13%.

However, as has been the norm in recent years, anomalies were seen district-wise. Districts that traditionally receive heavy rainfall reported deficiency while those that record lower quantum saw a large departure from normal.