NEW DELHI : Yet another late withdrawal of monsoon rainfall has reinforced India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) perception that the annual rainy season is getting longer. “If the monsoon withdraws late, it means the rainfall is continuing till October and winter could set in suddenly. If the monsoon season is indeed becoming longer, farmers will have to judiciously utilize that period," said Mohapatra. The withdrawal of the southwest monsoon is normally completed by 15 October, after which the arrival of the northeast monsoon, or the winter monsoon, begins. However, this year the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon was completed on 16 October with the simultaneous arrival of the northeast monsoon.

Source: Mint October 17, 2019 17:48 UTC