MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Rainfall surplus scales season's highest level of 8.3%

Excess rainfall in 12 states, normal in 16

Rainfall surplus widened to the highest level of 8.31 percent on September 11, as the country received 67 percent excess rainfall, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department.

This was the eleventh straight day of more than 7 percent rainfall and the first time in seven days when rainfall crossed the 8 percent mark.

Out of the 36 states and Union Territories, 16 have received normal rainfall, while 12 continued to experience excess downpour.

Rajasthan had the highest rainfall surplus at 59 percent on September 11. The state has also recorded gains in sowing this Kharif season.

Gujarat, another state with good acreage, received 49 percent surplus rainfall, while Maharashtra had a 29 percent surplus.

In the South, Kerala was the only state with a rainfall deficit of 9 percent, while the other seven states received above-normal rainfall.

Most of the excess rainfall is concentrated in the southern and central regions of the country.

Normal rainfall across the country has helped a pick-up in kharif sowing. As of September 9, the deficit had decreased to just 0.3 percent below normal.

On September 9, kharif acreage was 2.2 percent higher at 109.2 million hectares. Paddy sowing was 2 percent above average, and coarse cereals were 4.3 percent above the normal area.

Jute and cotton sowing was below normal.

Reservoir capacity was 18 percent above the 10-year average as of September 5.

In the southern region, the water level was 34 percent above normal.