SW monsoon to bring above-normal rains in state: IMD

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh will experience above-normal cumulative rainfall this monsoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted on Tuesday (April 15). This is the second consecutive year when IMD has forecast above normal rainfall in its first long range forecast for the southwest monsoon season.
The weather agency forecast that India is likely to see above-normal rainfall in the four-month southwest monsoon season between June and Sept this year, with cumulative rainfall estimated at 105 percent of the long period average of 87 cm. It ruled out the possibility of El Nino conditions during the entire season.
AP had received 21 percent of excess rainfall during the south west monsoon (June 1 to 30) last year. The state received a cumulative rainfall of 629.2 mm rainfall against the normal of 521.6 mm. In 2023, AP had recorded a total of 454.6 mm rainfall during monsoon which is 13 percent deficient then the normal. In 2022, the state had recorded a total of 575.5 mm rainfall (over 10 percent more than the normal of 521.6 mm).
Dr S Karuna Sagar, scientist at IMD-Amaravati, said that Andhra Pradesh can expect good monsoon rainfall during the southwest monsoon season this year. Particularly, north coastal Andhra Pradesh will experience excess rainfall during the monsoon, he added.
The exact date of the onset of the southwest monsoon in the state is yet to be known. It may be noted that arrival of southwest monsoon in the state is based on its advancement from Kerala. Usually, it usually arrives in AP by the first week of June.
Monsoon is crucial for the state's agriculture sector as around 60 percent of its farmers are rain dependent.
"The expected good monsoon rains in coastal AP as well as Rayalaseema districts will lead to increased sowing of kharif crops. Normally, monsoon progresses in the state in June and is expected to bring good rains from July," said farmers.