The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the southwest monsoon has withdrawn completely from the entire country on Wednesday, just 8-9 days after it started receding from northwest India.
Its withdrawal on Wednesday was accompanied by the arrival of the northeast monsoon, which is the primary rainy season for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. This is also perhaps the fastest withdrawal of the southwest monsoon. According to the IMD, it was also unusual since both the withdrawal of southwest monsoon and arrival of the northeast monsoon took place on the same day — October 16.
"The Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn from the entire country and simultaneously Northeast Monsoon rains have commenced over Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala," the IMD said in a statement.
Normally, the monsoon begins withdrawing around September 1, with the retreat complete by October 15. This year, though, the retreat began on October 9, marking the longest ever delay, and was complete by October 16.
Unlike the southwest monsoon which brings rainfall over the entire country, north-east monsoon brings rainfall only over Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema, Kerala, and south-interior Karnataka during October to December. It is also crucial for cultivation of rabi crops such as wheat.
The four-month southwest monsoon season is crucial for India, as it accounts for over 75% of the country's annual rainfall. It determines the agricultural production and thus impacts the economy. Unlike last year, when 9% below normal rains left various parts of the country reeling under droughts, the seasonal rainfall this year was in excess of 10%.
The IMD said that a cyclonic circulation lies over east-central Arabian Sea off south Karnataka coast at lower levels. A trough runs from north Sri Lanka coast to above cyclonic circulation at lower levels.
A trough in easterlies runs from southwest Bay of Bengal off south Tamil Nadu coast to west-central Bay of Bengal at lower levels, it added.