Heavy Rainfall Forecast for South India Due to Northeast Monsoon

Thiruvananthapuram: Although the scheduled onset date for the Northeast monsoon is October 1, its arrival is often delayed due to the late withdrawal of the Southwest monsoon. According to the Meteorological Department, the Southwest monsoon is likely to withdraw by October 15, followed immediately by an intensification of the Northeast monsoon. Consequently, heavy rainfall is expected across most parts of the southern peninsula over the next four to five days.

Regions forecast to receive heavy rainfall include Kerala, coastal and south-interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. This rainfall will significantly benefit plantation crops (such as tea, coffee, spices, areca nut, and rubber) and help raise water levels in dams and reservoirs. Torrential rain is also likely in north-interior Karnataka; rainfall in the state will help alleviate drought conditions and provide some relief to the *tur* (pigeon pea) crop.

The withdrawal line of the Southwest monsoon currently passes through Kolkata, Angul (Odisha), Khammam (Telangana), and Honavar (Karnataka). The monsoon has already withdrawn from the rest of the country.