Driest August in 5 years, Chandigarh recorded 39% deficit rainfall

Sandeep Rana

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30

The city recorded 39 per cent deficit rainfall in the three monsoon months this year, with August being the driest in the past five years.

The month recorded 168.3 mm of rainfall, the lowest for August since 2016. More than double rainfall (441.3 mm) was witnessed in August last year compared to this year.

The month in 2019 also saw a good rainfall of 284.4 mm. Similarly, the month recorded 304.6 mm and 264.8 mm of rainfall in 2018 and 2017, respectively. However, 2016 saw less rainfall (127.4 mm).

“Chandigarh has seen 39 per cent deficit rainfall and Punjab around 24 per cent deficit rainfall so far. The main reason for less rain in Chandigarh is that July remained dry overall in northern India,” Manmohan Singh, Director, Chandigarh Meteorological Department, told Chandigarh Tribune.

Less rain is not good for agriculture and groundwater level. Rain is not expected to improve in the coming days. The Met Director said: “In the coming week, not much rain is expected. The city may witness scattered or isolated rain.”