In a meteorological whirlwind, Goa witnessed a significant departure from its usual temperatures over the weekend, marking a stark contrast to the scorching heat that prevailed just a week ago. The maximum temperatures in key regions experienced notable drops, signaling the onset of the monsoon season’s active spell.
Panaji, the state capital, saw temperatures plummeting to 25.7 degrees Celsius, a notable five-degree drop from the previous week’s peak of 30 degrees Celsius. Similarly, in Mormugao, temperatures dipped to 26.2 degrees Celsius, marking a departure of 4.7 degrees Celsius from the norm. This sudden decrease in temperatures has been attributed to a surge in rainfall on June 8 and 9, which left the state inundated for hours.
The heavy rains, prompting a red alert warning from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), marked the first active spell of the monsoon season. On June 8, Goa experienced its wettest day this season with a record rainfall of 95.1mm, followed by 63.6mm on June 9. These downpours brought the total rainfall received by the state to 284.7mm, representing a remarkable 57.4% excess compared to the mean rainfall.
However, the respite from the sweltering heat proved short-lived as temperatures surged back up to 30.6 degrees Celsius in Panaji on June 10. The IMD issued a warning indicating a possibility of reduced rainfall over Goa after June 12. Despite this, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places across the state on June 10 and 11, with continued heavy rainfall forecasted for June 12.
Short, intense spells of rain accompanied by strong winds gusting up to around 50kmph are anticipated during this period. As the monsoon season unfolds, Goa’s weather continues to be a tale of fluctuations, with residents and authorities remaining vigilant amidst the unpredictable patterns of rain and temperature shifts.
