Wettest September day in a decade as Pernem, Sakhali cross 150mm

PANAJI: The 24-hour spell till Sunday morning turned out to be the wettest during September in a decade, as six centres recorded heavy rainfall of 100mm-plus, including two which crossed the 150mmmark, as the bumper rainfall continues this season.


Rain activity subsided over the last two days and most centres, barring Valpoi with 98.6mm, recorded less than 15mm rainfall.

But the weekend activity was the heaviest in a decade.

“The state average rainfall of 111mm recorded on Sunday is higher than 85mm on September 1,” Krishnamurty Padgalwar, director, India meteorological department (IMD), Goa, said.

A combination of strong systems has yielded heavy rainfall during the first week. “On the weekend, moisture converge due to two systems over Goa region—an offshore trough in the Arabian Sea and a low pressure area over Chattisgarh— triggered copious rainfall,” S D Sanap, IMD scientist, said.

On Sunday morning, Pernem and Sakhali appeared to be under a deluge as both crossed the 150mm mark—153.8mm and 151.8mm respectively. While Canacona recorded the lowest 31.2mm, Mapusa 37mm, Quepem 46.2mm, Valpoi 67mm, Panaji 91.5 and Margao 98.2mm, other centres crossed the century mark with Sanguem 146mm, Old Goa 118.8mm, Mormugao 118mm and Dabolim 108.6mm.

The highest state average rainfall in a 24-hour spell this season of 143mm was recorded on August 15.

With the meteorology centre forecasting light to moderate rainfall during the next three to four days, some relief is in sight for the state. “The rainfall activity will reduce for a few days,” Sanap said.

In 2007, September was one of the rainiest with IMD recording 788.7mm that year. As forecast earlier by IMD, the seasonal rainfall is likely to be above normal.