Overnight showers lashed several parts of Coimbatore district, signalling a gradual revival of southwest monsoon activity. Thondamuthur received around 26.40 mm of rainfall, while Valparai recorded more than 60 mm in the last 24 hours, indicating an increase in monsoon activity across the district.
Coimbatore: Residents across Coimbatore woke up to rain-soaked roads and a refreshing Saturday morning after overnight showers lashed several parts of the district, bringing much-needed relief from the recent dry spell.
Although the southwest monsoon has not been particularly vigorous over the city so far this season, intermittent drizzles, moderate showers and breezy conditions over the past few days have restored Coimbatore's characteristically cool and pleasant weather.
The southwest monsoon set in over a month ago, but the city has largely experienced cloudy skies rather than widespread rainfall. However, heavier showers have been recorded in the Siruvani catchment areas, prompting authorities to temporarily close Kovai Kutralam on Friday due to the risk of flash floods.
Rain activity intensified from Friday afternoon, with drizzles and moderate showers reported across the city and neighbouring suburban areas. The outskirts received comparatively higher rainfall than the city centre. Overnight showers continued across most parts of Coimbatore, while light to moderate rain persisted in several localities on Saturday morning.
According to rainfall data recorded between Friday and Saturday morning, Podanur received around 26.40 mm of rainfall, while Pollachi recorded nearly 20 mm. Valparai, the district's wettest region during the southwest monsoon, received more than 60 mm of rainfall during the same period, indicating a gradual revival of monsoon activity in the hills after an initially subdued season.
Meteorologists attribute the delayed monsoon performance to large-scale atmospheric and oceanic factors. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), June monsoon rainfall over Kerala has shown a long-term declining trend between 1901 and 2026, with average June rainfall decreasing by about 1.4 mm annually, amounting to an overall reduction of nearly 176 mm over the past 126 years.
Experts also point to the unfavourable phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the prevailing neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which have weakened the westerly winds that drive the southwest monsoon across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and much of the country.
These conditions have resulted in significant rainfall deficits in several Kerala districts, including Wayanad (-67%), Idukki (-54%) and Palakkad (-41%) as of July 1, affecting inflows into major reservoirs and slowing the overall progress of the monsoon across southern India.
Despite the subdued start to the season, the latest spell of rainfall has raised hopes of a stronger monsoon phase ahead. Weather conditions remain favourable, and Coimbatore district is expected to continue receiving intermittent light to moderate showers over the coming days, keeping daytime temperatures in check and maintaining the city's pleasant weather.
Although the southwest monsoon has not been particularly vigorous over the city so far this season, intermittent drizzles, moderate showers and breezy conditions over the past few days have restored Coimbatore's characteristically cool and pleasant weather.
The southwest monsoon set in over a month ago, but the city has largely experienced cloudy skies rather than widespread rainfall. However, heavier showers have been recorded in the Siruvani catchment areas, prompting authorities to temporarily close Kovai Kutralam on Friday due to the risk of flash floods.
Rain activity intensified from Friday afternoon, with drizzles and moderate showers reported across the city and neighbouring suburban areas. The outskirts received comparatively higher rainfall than the city centre. Overnight showers continued across most parts of Coimbatore, while light to moderate rain persisted in several localities on Saturday morning.
According to rainfall data recorded between Friday and Saturday morning, Podanur received around 26.40 mm of rainfall, while Pollachi recorded nearly 20 mm. Valparai, the district's wettest region during the southwest monsoon, received more than 60 mm of rainfall during the same period, indicating a gradual revival of monsoon activity in the hills after an initially subdued season.
Meteorologists attribute the delayed monsoon performance to large-scale atmospheric and oceanic factors. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), June monsoon rainfall over Kerala has shown a long-term declining trend between 1901 and 2026, with average June rainfall decreasing by about 1.4 mm annually, amounting to an overall reduction of nearly 176 mm over the past 126 years.
Experts also point to the unfavourable phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the prevailing neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which have weakened the westerly winds that drive the southwest monsoon across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and much of the country.
These conditions have resulted in significant rainfall deficits in several Kerala districts, including Wayanad (-67%), Idukki (-54%) and Palakkad (-41%) as of July 1, affecting inflows into major reservoirs and slowing the overall progress of the monsoon across southern India.
Despite the subdued start to the season, the latest spell of rainfall has raised hopes of a stronger monsoon phase ahead. Weather conditions remain favourable, and Coimbatore district is expected to continue receiving intermittent light to moderate showers over the coming days, keeping daytime temperatures in check and maintaining the city's pleasant weather.