Bhubaneswar: Monsoon has never failed Odisha. If the wait has been long at times, it has made up for it by coming with full vigour later. It rained throughout 2009 in Odisha while the rest of the country was experiencing the worst drought in many years.
With the Met Department forecasting monsoon to hit the State in a week’s time, here’s a look at the monsoon rainfall in the past 10 years:
1. In 2018, Odisha was declared a rain-surplus state, even as the monsoon arrived on June 27 against the normal date of June 10. By September 11, the surplus recorded was at 13 per cent.
2. 2017 — In 2017, the state witnessed deficit rainfall to the extent of 8 per cent, but the precipitation varied from one meteorological station to another. In some places, rainfall was near normal.
3. 2016 — The rainfall deficit was as high as 10 per cent, but it was better than the average rainfall recorded in other parts of the country.
4. 2015 — Again, the deficit recorded was 10 per cent, though monsoon activity maintained uniformity across Odisha.
5. 2014 — It rained well throughout and by the end of the season, the state recorded above normal rainfall to the extent of 9 per cent.
6. 2013 — The deficit was 3 per cent.
7. 2012 — The deficit was only one per cent, but it was accepted as a normal monsoon in meteorological parlance.
8. 2011 — The deficit was 4 per cent.
9. 2010 — Perhaps the worst monsoon year for the state when the deficit climbed to 15 per cent
10. 2009 — When the entire country was staring at a drought, Odisha recorded normal monsoon. The surplus/deficit recorded was zero per cent.
11. 2008 — This year could be declared as the rainiest year for Odisha and the best in a decade when rainfall activity was above 22 per cent.
(Data sourced from Skymet)
