| Climate |
The District has a favourable agro-climatic condition, which is suitable for growing a number of crops. The proximity of equator, its topography and other climate factors favour the growth of various crops.The paddy varieties grown in the second crop season in Thovalai and Agasteeswaram taluks are grown during the first crop season in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. This shows that there is distinct variation in the climatic conditions prevailing within the district. Unlike other district in Tamil Nadu, it has a rainfall both during the South West and the North East monsoons. The South West monsoon period starts from the month of June and ends in September, While the North East monsoon period starts from October and ends in the middle of December. The average rainfall is as shown .
TIME SERIES DATA OF RAINFALL BY SEASONS (LAST 10 YEARS)
| Sl.
No.
|
Year | South West Monsoon | North East Monsoon | Winter season | Hot weather season | Total |
% |
|||||
| Normal | Actual | Normal | Actual | Normal | Actual | Normal | Actual | Normal | Actual | |||
| 1 | 1993 | 559.1 | 5935.0 | 526.0 |
927.8 |
50.2 |
17.0 |
321.5 |
205.5 |
1456.8 |
1743.5 |
+19.68 |
| 2 | 1994 | 559.1 |
492.8 |
526.0 |
1039.9 |
50.2 |
77.1 |
321.5 |
276.7 | 1456.8 |
1886.4 |
+29.49 |
| 3 | 1995 | 559.1 | 595.7 |
526.0 |
630.3 | 50.2 |
41.2 |
321.5 |
509.6 | 1456.8 | 1776.8 |
+21.97 |
| 4 | 1996 | 559.1 | 592.8 | 526.0 |
608.0 |
50.2 |
19.5 |
321.5 |
213.5 |
1456.8 |
1343.8 | -7.76 |
| 5 | 1997 | 559.1 | 593.0 | 526.0 | 646.5 | 50.2 |
10.6 |
321.5 |
269.2 |
1456.8 |
1519.3 |
+4.29 |
| 6 | 1998 | 559.1 | 760.0 | 526.0 | 653.4 | 50.2 |
2.8 |
321.5 |
240.4 |
1456.8 |
1656.9 |
+13.74 |
| 7 | 1999 | 559.1 | 667.8 | 526.0 |
1069.3 |
50.2 | 52.7 | 321.5 | 458.6 | 1456.8 | 2248.4 | +54.34 |
| 8 | 2000 | 559.1 | 590.4 |
526.0 |
602.0 | 50.2 | 204.1 | 321.5 | 138.8 | 1456.8 | 1535.3 | +5.39 |
| 9 | 2001 | 559.1 | 894.6 |
526.0 |
360.3 |
50.2 | 73.9 | 321.5 |
419.2 |
1456.8 | 1748.5 | +20.02 |
| 10 | 2002 | 559.1 | 650.9 | 526.0 | 484.8 | 50.2 | 28.2 | 321.5 | 341.6 | 1456.8 |
1505.5 |
+3.34 |
| 11 | 2003 | 559.1 | 232.0 | 526.0 | 750.6 | 50.2 | 9.5 | 321.5 | 188.5 | 1456.8 | 982.7 | -32.54 |
| 12 | 2004 | 559.1 | 623.6 | 526.0 | 348.95 | 50.2 | 10.5 | 321.5 | 480.7 | 1456.8 | 1463.8 | +0.48 |
| 13 | 2005 | 559.1 | 729.0 | 526.0 | 667.7 | 50.2 | 32.8 | 321.5 | 461.5 | 1456.8 | 1791.3 | +22.96 |
| 14 | 2006 | 559.1 | 644.4 | 526.0 | 620.7 | 50.2 | 21.5 | 321.5 | 368.1 | 1456.8 | 1654.7 | +13.58 |