Shortest monsoon in three decades

by Ni Moe Myint
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 16:13

Rangoon (Mizzima) – For the first time in three decades, the monsoon in Burma will be about 30 days shorter this year, according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department.

The southwest monsoon usually withdraws on or around September 10 in upper Burma and on or around the end of the month in the rest of the country.

The monsoon season usually starts on May 10 in the whole country but this year, the monsoon was late and arrived on May 25.

“This year, the monsoon season started 15 days late and ended 15 days earlier. This is very rare,” a senior meteorologist and hydrologist requesting anonymity said.

The monsoon season lasts about 145 days annually from May 10 to mid-October but it will last only 115 days this season with low rainfall.

“Yes, it’s true, the underground water level falls. But there will be no problem if we can provide water from irrigation and river water pumping stations. Otherwise agricultural production will fall,” a senior official from Burma’s Agricultural Department told Mizzima.

A similar short monsoon occurred in 1979. The weathermen thought it was due to El Nino and global warming. The monsoon was also short by 10 days in 1988.

The retired weatherman said that the change of climate is visible not only in Burma but also in equatorial countries in the Pacific Ocean region.

There was rain in central Burma such as Mandalay Division, lower Sagaing Division and Magwe Division in early June and after August 15. In the rest of the season, there was drought in these regions.

The Meteorology and Hydrology Department issued warnings which says there will be low pressure which can lead to storm at least twice during the withdrawal of the monsoon from mid-September to the end of September.