Monsoon covers most of India, remaining parts likely in next 2-3 days
For the first time after 1961, Mumbai and Delhi were covered by the monsoon on the same day while the farthest parts of the country were also covered though the onset was late and progress faltered. As expected, it may cover the entire country 10 days earlier than its usual schedule on July 8.
“The southwest monsoon has advanced further to remaining parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, remaining parts of Uttarakhand, most parts of Himachal Pradesh and some other parts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on June 25 ” Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) he said in a statement.
It added that conditions are ripe for more monsoons in other parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir over the next two days. The Northern Monsoon Limit (NLM) now passes through Veraval, Baroda, Udaipur, Narnool, Ambala and Katra.
On June 21, 1961, the monsoon covered the entire country on the same day, said a senior scientist at the International Institute for Human Development. Normally, monsoon starts in Kerala on 1st June and covers the entire country by 8th July.
This year, when the monsoon hit Kerala on June 8, the rainfall deficit across India was 60 percent. With the monsoon almost at a standstill between June 11th and June 22nd, there were as many as 21 minor states until June 20th.
However, with the return of the monsoons and widespread rainfall in many parts of the country, the deficit has now narrowed to 28 percent, although a number of countries with rainfall shortages remain the same.
Skymet’s sign
Own weather forecaster Skymet predicted in April that precipitation in June would be 99 percent of the long-term average of 165.3mm. However, the impact of Typhoon Biparjoy could not be taken into account at that time as such forecasts were announced 7-15 days before the event.
On the other hand, the IMD forecast recorded “below-than-normal” rainfall for the month of June over most of the country. But it also said that some areas in peninsular southern India, northwest India, far north India, and some isolated pockets in northeastern India could have “above normal” precipitation in June.
Till June 25, the East and Northeast meteorological subdivisions, which includes West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and other northeastern states, have received 21 percent rainfall deficit, although Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim have excess rain.
Northwest region
Similarly, the northwest region recorded an excess of 33 percent rainfall, with rains in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir falling “less than normal”. Central India is 45 percent short of deficit although Gujarat, the only state in the region, has recorded 82 percent above normal rainfall.
The southern peninsula has a 49 percent deficiency, but Tamil Nadu has received 12 percent of the excess in rainfall. Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar are other regions where IMD data showed excessive rainfall.
Although June is equally important for sowing to take off across the country, July is the most important as most of the planting is covered during this period.
Sky Mate predicts July rainfall will be ‘less than normal’quantitatively 95 percent of the LPA, while the IMD is likely to forecast the July forecast this week. Autumn sowing was generally cut short The Agriculture Ministry said last Friday that it was 4.5 percent through June 23.