Panaji: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a three-day yellow alert for Goa from Sept 22 to 24, warning of thunderstorms and lightning as the state continues to face a weak monsoon and a 32.2% rainfall deficit.The weather office has forecast light to moderate rain and isolated lightning activity during the three-day alert period. Scattered light showers are likely to continue from Sept 25 to 27, with weather warnings expected to ease toward the end of the week.The alert comes amid a sharp decline in late-season rainfall. On Sept 21, Goa recorded just 0.1mm of rain against the daily normal of 9mm. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 1, the state has received 1,981.7mm against the normal 2,922.7mm, leaving a cumulative deficit of 32.2%.The weak rainfall has coincided with above-normal temperatures and high humidity. Panaji recorded a maximum of 32.6°C on Sept 21, 2.3°C above normal, while the minimum was 25.8°C, nearly 2°C above average. Relative humidity stood at 94%.Mormugao recorded a maximum temperature of 32.8°C, 2.8°C above normal, with a minimum of 26°C and relative humidity of 94%.The thunderstorm warning comes even as the southwest monsoon has begun withdrawing from parts of north India.
