The Hindu Business Line : `Excess' summer showers recorded; isolated heavy rainfall forecast in Kerala

It clarified that the ongoing rainfall is a part of the bountiful summer showers, classified as `excess' (over 120 per cent in recorded precipitation) for the 2004 season.

The Met Department attributed the expected spell during the next two days to the disturbances in the Bay of Bengal such as a run-up to the the southwest monsoon and the intensification of a low-pressure area into a depression.

Along with Kerala, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Karnataka also are expected to experience a downpour.

Summary of weather: Many parts of Kerala received heavy rains on Monday with Kozhikode recording six cm, Kasaragode and Thalassery five cm and Kochi Airport, four cm.

According to the summary of weather for the preceding four-day period, rain/thundershowers occurred at most of the areas in Kerala on May 16th, a few places on the 15th and the 14th.

Mainly dry weather prevailed on May 13th.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm were:

May 14: Haripad - two; and Aluva and Kochi Airport - one each.

May 15: Kozhikode, Haripad and Pattambi - one each.

May 16: Nilambur and Kollam - six each; Vadakkancherry - five; Kozhikode - four; Tiruvalla, Kollengode, Kochi Airport and Kasaragode - three; and Konni, Koilandy,Cochin International Airport, Kottayam and Punalur - two each. Mean maximum temperature varied between 31 deg C and 34 deg C in various districts with Punalur recording the highest maximum of 34.4 deg C on May 15.

Mean relative humidity varied between 50 per cent and 86 per cent, mean cloud coverage ranged between four oktas and seven oktas and mean wind speed varied between two km/ph and eight km/ph.

Forecast until May 18 indicated rain/thundershowers in all districts; the heavy rain will continue in the following day . There was no significant change in forecasts for the next two days.

State and stage of crops: The `Virippu' paddy nurseries are in the sprouting- to-seedling stage. Application of organic manure and the ploughing of fields are in progress.

Weeding,new planting and intercultural operations are in full swing for coconut, arecanut, banana, pepper and vegetables.

Seed nuts are being sown in coconut nurseries. Fruit crops are getting harvested and processed while weeding and top dressing for spice crops are also in progess.

Advisory for three days: Preparation of the field and ploughing of the same can be continued in Virippu paddy.

Areas, which are sown early, are likely to be infested with gallfly and thrips In severe cases, spraying of Quinalphos at 1.5 ml/litre of water is recommended.

New planting, weeding and intercultural operations can be continued for coconut, arecanut, pepper, banana, tapioca and rubber.Green manure seeds can be sown in coconut gardens and seed nuts can be sown in nurseries.

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