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Rainfall
Kerala
is blessed with plentiful rain, 54% to 85% of which is contributed by
the monsoons. Monsoons bring to Kerala two rainy seasons-the southwest
monsoon or the Edavappathi, bringing rains during June-September, and
the north east monsoon or the Thulavarsham during October to December.
Kerala is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon but also receives
rain from the reverse (northeast) monsoon. Rainfall averages about 118
inches (3,000 millimetres) annually statewide, with some slopes
receiving more than 200 inches.
The north east monsoon season begins from the middle of October and
lasts upto the end of February, though the rain associated with it
ceases by December. The total annual rainfall in the state varies from
380 cms over the extreme northern parts to about 180 cms to the south.
The amount of rainfall decreases towards the south almost in proportion
with the decrease in altitude of the Western Ghats. July receives the
maximum rainfall with all meterological centres recording about 25 rainy
days.
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