NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa ended August with 7 per cent excess rainfall, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more wet days ahead, issuing yellow and orange alerts for heavy to very heavy showers between September 1 and 6. Very heavy rain accompanied by strong winds gusting up to 50 kmph is expected on September 3. Conditions are likely to ease gradually with a green alert — no warning — forecast from September 7.
According to the Meteorological Centre Goa, the state recorded a cumulative rainfall of 894.9 mm in August against the normal 728.3 mm, an overall departure of 22.9 per cent. North Goa registered 903.2 mm, 20.1 per cent above normal, while South Goa received 887.5 mm, 25.5 per cent above average.
The month saw five major downpours within just two weeks: 67.8 mm on August 14, 105 mm on August 18, 77.4 mm on August 19, 63.5 mm on August 20, and 75.9 mm on August 27. The heaviest spell struck on August 28, when Goa was lashed by 160 mm of rain in a single day.
August’s excess comes after June ended with a 13.3 per cent rainfall deficit, while July recovered with a 13 per cent surplus.