September 30th 2024.
The 2024 southwest monsoon season has officially come to an end, as reported by the India Meteorological Department on Monday. The country has received a total of 934.8 mm of rainfall, which is 108 per cent of the long-term average and the highest since 2020. This is great news for India, as the monsoon season plays a crucial role in the country's agriculture and water supply.
According to the data, central India has received 19 per cent more rainfall than the long-term average, while the southern peninsula has seen a 14 per cent increase and northwest India has recorded 7 per cent more rainfall than usual. However, the eastern and northeastern regions have experienced a 14 per cent deficit in rainfall compared to the long-term average.
Interestingly, the monsoon season had a rocky start with an 11 per cent deficit in June. But, it quickly made up for it with an excess of 9 per cent in July, 15.7 per cent in August, and 10.6 per cent in September. This is a significant improvement from the 2023 monsoon season, where India only received 94.4 per cent of the long-term average rainfall.
In the past few years, India has seen a fluctuation in its monsoon season. In 2022, the country received 925 mm of rainfall, which was 106 per cent of the long-term average. In 2021, it was 870 mm, and in 2020, it was 958 mm. This year, the IMD had predicted above-normal rainfall, and their forecast was accurate for the most part. They predicted below-normal rainfall for northeast India, normal rainfall for the northwest, and above-normal rainfall for central and southern peninsular regions.
The monsoon season is crucial for India's agricultural sector, as more than half of the net cultivated area depends on it. Moreover, it is also vital for replenishing reservoirs that provide drinking water and support power generation across the country. With this year's monsoon season ending on a positive note, it is a relief for many who rely on the rain-bearing system.
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