As of 22:09 GMT, 17 MAR 2008

SOUTH INDIA

SUMMARY- Showers and thundershowers noted in southern areas yesterday, 0.10-1.50+ inches (3-38+ mm). Mostly dry elsewhere. Temperatures 80 to 104F (27 to 40C).

FORECAST-

TODAY...Additional showers and thundershowers south, mainly in Tamilnadu and Kerala, 0.10-1.00+ inch (3-25+ mm). Continuing mostly dry elsewhere. Temperatures 82 to 104F (28 to 40C).

TONIGHT...A few showers lingering far south, mostly dry elsewhere overnight. Areas of haze and smoke. TOMORROW...Similar conditions to those of today.

OUTLOOK...Scattered showers diminishing in Tamilnadu and Kerala, mostly dry conditions elsewhere this period. Temperatures increasingly warm to hot.

INDIA GROUNDNUTS (PEANUTS) - Gujarat, south-central and southeast India are the major growing areas.

Two crops...June to September and November to March. This crop needs adequate but not excessive rains during the growing season.

CROP IMPACT: Late Monsoon season rains favored the reproductive Rabi crop in south India. It had been drier since this late rain ended, however showers were in the area during the middle of February.

Increasing rains through southern India since late last week will favor any of the late filling Rabi groundnut crop but it may also delay the early harvest for this crop. Source: Meteorlogix, DTN's brand of commercial weather services.