Southwest monsoon: 20 districts in Tamil Nadu likely to get normal rainfall, TNAU forecasts

COIMBATORE: As many as 20 districts in the state are expected to receive normal rainfall between June and August, as per the southwest monsoon prediction of the Agro-Climate Research Centre of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).
According to the forecast, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Erode, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Dindigul, Theni, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Trichy, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Nammakkal and Kancheepuram districts are likely to get get normal rainfall.(Any deviation by 10 mm or lesser is considered normal rainfall).
Coimbatore is expected to receive 194 mm of rainfall compared to its normal 189.8 mm. Erode might record 221 mm of rainfall compared to its usual 229 mm and Tirupur might receive 144 mm as against the usual 154 mm.
The forecast says Madurai, Virudhunagar, Karur, Salem, Perambalur, Chennai, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai districts might get near normal rainfall.
The research centre said it generated the forecast by studying the southern oscillation index and sea surface temperature of the Pacific and Indian oceans.
“We used the Australian Rainman International software. We also analysed the long period average weather parameters using the software and generated the forecast for different districts of Tamil Nadu,” said Dr SP Ramanathan, head of the Agro Climate Research Centre.
Tamil Nadu receives its majority of rainfall every year during the northeast monsoon. However, the southwest monsoon is crucial for improving or at least maintaining the ground water table.