Met records 17% rain deficit

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News service

Shimla, September 22

Even as the monsoon is likely to withdraw by September end, light to moderate rain is likely to occur at most places in lower, middle and higher hills during the next 48 hours.

Manmohan Singh, Director, MeT office, said that heavy rain would occur at isolated places in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts.

Though the region received periodical rainfall this year, the current rain deficit from June 1 to September 22 has been 17 per cent. The region received 673.7 mm rain against normal rainfall of 811.8 mm, a deficit of 17 per cent.

The tribal areas received very scant rainfall. Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded 71 per cent and 35 per cent rains, respectively. Monsoon deficit was 52 per cent in Chamba, 20 percent in Solan and 17 per cent in Sirmaur districts.

Una recorded 20 percent excess rain, Mandi 6 percent, Kullu 5 per cent and Bilaspur and Kangra 4 percent each. The rain deficit was negligible at 3 per cent and one percent in Shimla and Hamirpur districts, respectively.

Sporadic rain accompanied by strong winds led to decline in maximum temperature. Heavy rain lashed Shimla and its surrounding areas today. Shimla received 10 mm rain, Jubbal 8 mm, Solan 5 mm, Rohru 3 mm and Kalpa and Kotkhai 2 mm rain.

The day temperature dropped marginally. Una was hottest with a high of 34.5°, Sundernagar recorded 28.9°C, Dharamshala 27.8°C, Bhuntar 26°C, Nahan 25.7°C, Solan 24°C, Shimla 20.2°C and Kalpa recorded maximum of 16°C.