Panaji: With the southwest monsoon over Goa weakening again, the rainfall, though widespread, has been light to moderate for a few days, as the seasonal rainfall deficit increased to 26.7%.The last few days of June and the first four days of July had yielded moderate to heavy rainfall in some places, raising the water level in dams and making farmers happy.But the last five days have yielded just 126.3mm of rainfall – the highest being 40.5mm on July 5 – as the seasonal total touched 898.6mm on Thursday.While a total of 1225.2mm is considered normal at this stage, the deficit which mounted to beyond 70% in June, continues due to scarce rainfall during this month, too.The highest 24-hour rainfall during the season of 89.5mm was recorded on June 23 and the second highest of 88.1mm was also recorded in the same month.Though July is the peak season month of southwest monsoon, the highest in this month so far was only 64.9mm which was recorded on July 1.During the last 24 hours till Thursday morning, Sanguem received 42.3mm, Old Goa 15.2mm, Valpoi and Dharbandora 14.2mm each, Sanquelim 10.8mm and all other centres, except Pernem, below 10mm.The mercury has risen due to sunny conditions, as India Meteorological Department (IMD), Panaji, recorded a maximum temperature of 32.5°C on Thursday – nearly three degrees above normal.The sultry weather during the day was followed by equally disconcerting conditions in the night hours, as the maximum temperature was 27.2 °C, also 2.9 degrees above normal.IMD Panaj,i, has forecast moderate rainfall during the next few days and the monsoon is likely to continue in the rather dry mode, as the systems prevailing in nearby regions are rather weak..
