Idukki district in Kerala has received 92 per cent excess rainfall so far this season, while Palakkad district has received an excess of 72 per cent, said the Indian Metereology Department (IMD). Overall, Kerala has had an excess of 42 per cent this season with a total precipitation of 2,346.6 mm as against the normal of 1,649.5mm till August 19. Kerala is experiencing one of its worst floods in recent times.
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The excess rainfall resulted in all the dams filling up to capacity by August 10, thus the authorities were compelled to open the floodgates and release excess water, that had inundated the low-lying areas, causing a huge humanitarian crisis. For the month of August so far, the state has already experienced 170 per cent excess rainfall in the catchment area.
Monsoon arrived early this year, hitting the Kerala coast on May 29, three days ahead of schedule. All the three monsoon months of the season have had excess rainfall in Kerala, with June having an excess of 15 per cent, July 18 per cent and August 164 per cent, In June, there were two peaks of heavy rainfall, one after another, on June 14 and 20. July had one peak on the 20th. August, however, has been an exceptional month, with the very heavy (7 cm and above) being recorded from August 8 onwards.
The coming week, during which Onam celebrations will be at peak, should bring some cheer. Although another system is developing in the Bay of Bengal, the IMD says that Kerala should only be getting "light to moderate" rainfall for the coming week.