Chandigarh's wettest January since 1983

Sandeep Rana

Chandigarh, January 23

The month has set an all-time rainfall record for January, surpassing the highest-ever figure of 166.6 mm reported way back in 1983.

This month, so far, the city has received 173.6 mm of rainfall, never seen before in January in the history of Chandigarh. The normal rainfall for this month is only 33 mm.

Manmohan Singh, Director, Chandigarh Meteorological Department, said, “A western disturbance remained strong. It was deep and the moisture from Arabian Sea was also more. Induced cyclonic circulation was also intense. This all caused unusual rainfall.”

This month has seen five to six western disturbances. However, the current one and two earlier this month were very strong to cause good amount of rain.

The weatherman said the whole region, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, had seen the effect of the current weather pattern. The Himalayan region saw snowfall, while the plains saw a good amount of rainfall.

The rain will help improve the ground water level and is good for agriculture too.

According to the weatherman, there could be scattered rainfall at isolated places on Monday. Thereafter, the weather will be clear. Fog is likely and the temperatures are expected to fall. For the next few days, there will be colder days.

Western disturbance remained strong

A western disturbance remained strong & moisture from Arabian Sea was more. Induced cyclonic circulation was intense, causing rainfall. — Manmohan Singh, MET Director