Mumbai: Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha, which were rain-deficient during the south-west monsoon period this year, are now receiving excess to normal rainfall since October. Districts of Beed, Parbhani and Jalna have received over 200 per cent excess rainfall in October, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
Weathermen have attributed the excess rain to the withdrawing monsoon and the cyclones. “This is the first time that the entire state has recorded 100 per cent excess rains in October. The continuous heavy rains due to consecutive cyclones like ‘Kyarr’ and ‘Maha’ led to excess rains in Marathwada and even normal rains in parts of Vidarbha. The heavy spells are expected for another two days, while on and off rains will prevail over Maharashtra for the next seven days,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, meteorology and climate change, Skymet Weather.
Heavy spells of rain in October have resulted in over 60 per cent excess rains in at least 16 districts out of 36 divisions. The total rainfall recorded for October across Maharashtra is 161.6mm, which is around 127 per cent higher than the normal average of 71mm for the month, as per IMD data.
The meteorological department’s data has further revealed that Jalna district recorded the highest excess rainfall (323 per cent), followed by Beed (294 per cent), Ahmednagar (258 per cent), Dhule (237 per cent) and Sindhudurg (236 per cent). Districts like Parbhani and Latur that were reeling under heat wave-like conditions till August also recorded surplus rains at 220 per cent and 163 per cent, respectively.
