Goa’s second wettest year in over a century

year Goa got its liberation, 1961, may have been a watershed year in more ways than one, but almost fifty years later, 2010 is also turning out to be quite significant - the second wettest year in more then a century.

While December 19, 1961 marked a turning point in the state’s history, Goa also received the highest annual rainfall of 4313.6mm the same year. “Taking that into account, the rainfall of 3723.5 mm so far this year is the second highest since 1961,” K V Singh, director, meteorology department, Altinho said.

Rain clouds hovering in the sky during the weekend have dispersed on Monday, but given the uncertain weather, they may reappear. And yet, there has been enough rain with two months remaining, suffice to leave a notable statistic as the second highest rainfall in 110 years.

“The annual rainfall till October 31 is also highest rainfall during this decade,” Singh said. Recalling the trend after South West Monsoon advanced over Goa on June 10, he said there was hardly any dry spell. “This year, it rained continuously and regularly, barring a couple of days,” Singh added. Otherwise, it rained in some nook and corner of Goa every day.

The year began on a wet note as meteorologists recorded 2.6mm rainfall in January. Later, Goa received 1.2mm in April and 68.4mm in May. During the four-month monsoon season (June-September) this year, the total rainfall recorded was 3384.6mm, including 971.4mm in June, 1245.5mm in July, 701.6mm in August, 466.1mm in September and 267.7mm in October.

“As per met department norms, Goa received 30% excess rainfall till date,” Singh added. Agriculture department had reported substantial damage to areca nut crop and paddy crop to a lesser extent.

But the four-month total (June-October) of 3384.6mm this year fell short by a few cms of the 2007 (four-month) record of 3417.0mm.

In comparison, the annual total of 3680.4mm in 1999 was the highest after 1961 till another wet year (3689.0 mm in 2007 left its tatoo on the roof.

“The lowest annual rainfall recorded was 1457.6mm in 1941,” Singh said.

The met department has total annual record from 1901, but rainfall records have been recorded monthwise after 1971. The annual totals have been added up only after 1991.