Second highest summer rainfall in five years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The weather system which developed over the south peninsular region triggered widespread rainfall in the state on Friday.
The state has so far received the second highest summer rainfall in the past five years. Though summer showers were relatively higher this time, India Meteorological Department stated that there was nothing unusual in it. North Kerala is expected to get rainfall till Sunday morning.
“Two weather systems, an upper air trough which extended from Telangana to the extreme south peninsular region, and an upper air cyclonic circulation over the south Tamil Nadu region, triggered widespread rainfall over the state on Friday. The IMD issued a heavy rainfall warning on Saturday.
"Since the upper air cyclonic circulation moved to the Central Kerala region, North Kerala is likely to experience widespread rainfall till Sunday,” said Met director K Santhosh. On Friday, Kochi and Enamackel in Thrissur district received 12 cm rainfall, Kollam 11 cm, Irinjalakuda 10 cm, Thrissur and Kodungallur 8 cm each and Kannur 7 cm.
Asked whether heavy summer showers had any influence over the monsoon rainfall, the Met director said that there was no co-relation. "Summer rainfall and monsoon are different,” he said. “You cannot say that summer showers will always be afternoon thundershowers. Rain triggered by formation of weather systems can happen anytime,” he said.
Summer rainfall was excess in the state this time. There was heavy pre-monsoon rainfall in 2008. Meanwhile, south- west monsoon is expected to reach the state by the end of this month.