Southwest monsoon exits India with 13% rain deficit

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon made its withdrawal from the entire country Thursday in line with the onset of the northeast monsoon over southern peninsular India, bringing heavy rainfall to parts of Tamil Nadu, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.

The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on June 4, three days after its normal onset date, ending the June-September season with a 13% rainfall deficit. India received 759.4 mm of rainfall during the period against the long-period average of 868.6 mm, making it the fourth-lowest monsoon rainfall season since 2001.

The northeast monsoon commenced over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka, and Kerala and Mahe on Thursday.


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The weather office said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over south coastal Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas, along with easterly and northeasterly winds over southern peninsular India and parts of the Bay of Bengal supported the onset.

Fairly widespread rainfall occurred over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and adjoining parts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Rayalaseema in the preceding 24 hours. Heavy rainfall was also recorded at a few places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.