Monsoon inactivity causes heavy reduction in rainfall
10-Jun-2025 01:07 PM
New Delhi. After showing strong activity in the last week of May, the Southwest Monsoon became largely inactive in June. As a result, there was a decrease of about 25 percent in rainfall during the first week of the current month (June).
According to the latest data of the Meteorological Department, between June 1 and 8, the country received 20.4 mm rainfall, which was about 25 percent less than the normal average level of 27.2 mm.
The Southwest Monsoon has been stagnant over some parts of Maharashtra and North Bengal since May 29. Now its second active phase is going to start in South India.
According to the Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of heavy rain and at some places very torrential rain in Karnataka, Konkan and Goa during May 12 to 15.
During the current monsoon season, it is necessary to have good rain at the right time in the major agricultural producing states of the country so that there can be better production of rice, pulses and oilseed crops and the government can get help in controlling food inflation.
On 29 May 2025, 30% of the water storage capacity was present in major dams and reservoirs across the country, which was not convenient despite being higher than the level of 23% during the same period last year and the ten-year average level of 25%.
It was expected that the water stock in the reservoirs would increase due to abundant monsoon rains. But the monsoon itself has become sluggish.
During the month of May, vegetable crops were damaged due to more than normal (surplus) rainfall in some areas of the country, but it also helped in sowing of Kharif crops. There is news of damage to onion and tomato crops in Maharashtra, due to which its market price increased.
Due to stagnation in monsoon, the possibility of its reaching various states of the country before the scheduled time has diminished.
This is adversely affecting the sowing of various Kharif crops, especially in northern, central and northwestern India. It seems that contrary to the forecast of the Meteorological Department, monsoon rains may be less or erratic in June because it will take time to become active. But there are strong chances of torrential rains in July, the rainiest month.