State received 21% less rain in June

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 1

In spite of timely arrival of monsoon and freak rain during June, Himachal Pradesh received 21 per cent deficient rain from June 1 to July 1.

The state received 84.2 mm rain against the normal average rainfall of 106 mm during June. All districts except Una and Kullu received less rain.

The maximum shortfall of 50 per cent was recorded in Lahaul and Spiti which received 28.3 mm of rain against 56.2 mm, followed by Sirmaur which received 83.4 mm rain against normal rainfall of 153.9 mm and Solan which had 83.3 mm against normal rainfall of 139.1 mm. Una and Kullu received 65 per cent, 7 per cent excess rain. Una got 125.2 mm of rain against the normal rainfall of 75.9 mm while Kullu received 91.6 mm of rain against normal rain of 85.9 mm.

The monsoon remained normal and some parts of the state had moderate rain. Sunni-Bhajji was the wettest in the state with 46 mm followed by Karsog 26 mm, Arki 17 mm, Mashobra 16mm, Sarahan 14 mm, Banjar 8mm, Jubbal and Kalpa 7 mm each, Manali 6 mm, Shimla, Sangrah, Seobagh, Kumarsain and Reckong Peo 5 mm each.

There was no significant change in the minimum temperatures and Kalpa and Keylong were the coldest at night with low of 11.4 degree while Manali, Dalhousie and Shimla recorded a low of 11.6 degree, 14.3 degree and 14.9 degree followed by Solan 17.5 degree, Dharamsala 17.6 degree, Bhuntar 18.5 degree, Una 18.7 degree, Kangra 20 degree, Bilaspur and Sundernagar 20.8 degree each, Nahan 20.9 degree and Hamirpur 21 degree C.

The maximum temperatures increased by 2 to 3 degree and Una was the hottest with a high of 35.8 degree, followed by Sundernagar 34 degree, Bhuntar 33 degree, Kangra 32.4 degree, Dharamshala 30.4 degree, Nahan 30 degree, Solan 29 degree, Shimla 24.5 degree and Kalpa 20.4 degree C.

The local Meteorological Department has predicted that there will be rain and thundershowers over the next five days.