Thiruvananthapuram, Friday 10 July 2009: A week of vigorous rainfall has helped bring down the monsoon deficit to 17 per cent in Kerala as on July 8, according to hydrology data released by India Meteorology Department (IMD).

The week ending July 8 witnessed 24 per cent excess rainfall. Against a normal of 203.5 mm, the State received an area-weighted rainfall of 253.4 mm during the week. At the district level, rainfall is excess by eight per cent in Kozhikode. It is close to normal in Alappuzha (minus four per cent), Kannur (minus one per cent), Ernakulam (minus three per cent) and Thrissur (minus three per cent).

Deficiency is 23 per cent in Idukki, 17 per cent in Kasaragod, 39 per cent in Kollam, 17 per cent in Kottayam, 28 per cent in Malappuram, 21 per cent in Palakkad, 18 per cent in Pathanamthitta, 44 per cent in Thiruvananthapuram and 42 per cent in Wayanad.

The IMD forecast said that the active spell along the west coast would continue for three or four days. Numerical weather prediction models also suggested a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal by July 12 to prolong the spell.