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Isolated rain not revival of monsoon Chandigarh, July 24 As for today, Ambala recorded significant rainfall of 39 mm, while areas in Himachal received meager rainfall, with Shimla recording about 0.8 mm. Chandigarh recorded 7.8 mm rain, with the pattern remaining fractured. Met officials also said the monsoon continued its unpredictable behaviour by paying a surprise visit to the region today. However, despite some “sharp” showers in places like Ambala and Chandigarh, the deficiency in rainfall is unlikely to be made up, given the persisting weak monsoon conditions. The current deficit stands at - 40 % for Punjab. Haryana is already recording a deficit of about - 49 % as of today, while Himachal Pradesh presents an even more dismal picture with a huge rainfall deficit of - 50 %. Giving this information to The Tribune today, Mr Surinder Paul, Director, Met, Chandigarh subdivision, added it would take formations of major low pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal to actually set on the revival of the monsoon. “For the coming few days, we do not see any such weather condition building up. The deficit conditions this year are comparable with those in 2002, when the monsoon took long to set in actual terms. Today’s rainfall has occurred due to circulations over Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Another contributor has been the moisture feed from the Arabian Sea.” Meanwhile, the rainfall deficit in the region has been increasing significantly. Going by the figures for southwest monsoon cumulative rainfall, the deficit for Himachal, Haryana and Punjab were minus-34%, minus-32% and minus-31 %, respectively, from June 1 to July 14. But this has increased to minus-50% for Himachal, followed by minus-49% and minus-40% for Haryana and Punjab. “Late onset of the monsoon this year is also responsible for rain deficit,” said Mr Surinder Paul. Data also suggests that out of the country’s 36 met subdivisions, only five have received excess rainfall, 15 have received normal rainfall, and the remaining 16 deficient rainfall. District-wise rainfall has been excess in 23%, normal in 27 %, deficient in 40 % and scanty in 10%. Rains, met officials add, will remain elusive till the time monsoon recovers from weak conditions. The major cause behind elusive rains notwithstanding the onset of monsoons is lack of low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. It is these systems that activate the monsoons in our region. But this time even the low pressure belts are shifting towards the foothills of the Himalayas. “Their movement is also not northwesterly,” said officials. Another reason is that the western disturbances this time have taken the monsoons towards the foothills of the Himalayas.  |
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