Pune: The monsoon this year has not entered a break phase so far making it the first such occurrence since 2016, India Meteorological Department ( IMD ) data shows. This uninterrupted monsoon activity represents a significant departure from patterns observed in recent years. As a result, of the 729 districts monitored, 548 (75%) have received normal, excess, or largely excess rainfall , according to the IMD's statewise distribution data for June 1 to September 14, 2024.
Monsoon breaks, characterized by at least three consecutive days of severely reduced rainfall over central India's core monsoon region, have been a consistent feature of the country's monsoon rainfall pattern. These breaks typically occur when the monsoon trough shifts from its usual position, leading to significant rainfall variability. An IMD official said, "There were two significant break periods in 2023 from Aug 5-18 and Aug 27-Sept 3, resulting in record low August rainfall.
Similarly, 2022 experienced seven days of break across July and August. The no-break monsoon season was last experienced in 2016 in July and August." IMD scientist SD Sanap said in comparison to the last year, when there was no monsoon rainfall on several days in Central India leading to a monsoon break, this time, there has been continuous rainfall in most regions in the monsoon's core zone.
Raghu Murtugudde, professor at IIT Bombay and Emeritus Professor at University of Maryland, said, "This monsoon is very atypical. We have seen .