Over 50% deficient rainfall so far during south-west Monsoon

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The country has received more than 50 percent of the deficient rainfall during the current southwest monsoon which started a week late on June 8 but may taper next week as many parts are likely to see more rain. This is due to Cyclone Biparjoy and further progression of the southwest monsoon, which has been stalled since June 11.

Mr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department, on Wednesday emphasized that unlike other cyclones, the Biparjoy monsoon has helped the monsoon advance to some extent.

“Northern Monsoon Limit (NLM) still passes through Ratnagiri, Kopal, Puttaparthi, Shriharikota, Malda and Vorpsganj,” IMD said in its daily bulletin. The monsoon has stopped since June 11, except for some progress that was noted on June 12 when it covered some areas in West Bengal, Bihar and the whole of Sikkim.

Precipitation naturally occurs in an area of ​​23%.

The Met Office said that widespread light/moderate rain with widespread thunderstorms is likely to continue over northeastern India, Kerala and coastal Karnataka from June 19 to 21. Isolation is projected due to scattered rains over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and inland Karnataka. Besides, there may be sporadic rains over the western Himalayas and adjacent plains in northwest India.

According to IMD, 26.6 mm of precipitation was received across the country from June 1 to June 14, which is 53 percent less than normal for the period. Precipitation decreased in the eastern and northeastern region by 48 percent, while the deficit reached 20 percent in the northwest, 73 percent in the central region, and 54 percent in the southern peninsula.

Only 23 percent of the country’s geographic areas (or 10 states/union territories) have received normal or higher rainfall while as many as 559 out of 717 provinces are experiencing deficient or no rainfall, so far.

Gujarat, which was at a 65 percent deficiency as of June 12, was now at a 9 percent surplus due to pre-cyclone rains in the past two days. Officials said there was 9.6 mm of precipitation on June 12 (vs 2.7 mm normal) and 10.4 mm (vs 2.8 mm normal) of rain on June 13 in Gujarat.

Punjab, a highly irrigated state, has 57 percent more rain than normal, and this could help planting rice and other fall crops this year. Rice sowing begins after June 20 in the state.