Highest annual rainfall in 25 yrs in Himachal Pradesh in 2023

Shimla, February 29

The state received the highest annual rainfall last year in the past 25 years. The average annual precipitation in the state was recorded at 1,334.9 mm last year, the highest since 1998. As per the annual weather report released by the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, the annual cumulative precipitation was deficient in the districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur, normal in the districts of Chamba, Kangra and Una, and largely excess in the districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan.

In the pre-monsoon season comprising the months of March, April and May, the state received a precipitation of 286.9 mm against the normal precipitation of 240.7 mm. “The continuity of rainfall that the state saw in the pre-monsoon season was not noticed in the past few years,” said Surender Paul, Director, Meteorological Centre, Shimla.

In the pre-monsoon season, all districts except Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur received excess rainfall. The highest cumulative monthly rainfall in the pre-monsoon season occurred in 1982.

In the monsoon season comprising June, July, August and September, the state received 886 mm of rainfall, which is the highest since 1995 when 1029.7 mm was recorded. During July and August, several instances of extreme rainfall were recorded. In July, seven instances of extremely heavy rainfall were recorded and in August, five such events were recorded.

In the post-monsoon season, from October to December, the state received 45.2 mm of rainfall. The districts of Una and Bilaspur received excess rainfall, while the districts of Chamba and Hamirpur, received normal rainfall. All other districts received deficient rainfall in the post-monsoon season.

As per the report, the state witnessed several instances of cloudburst in July and August. In July alone, 45 instances of cloudburst were recorded, with district Kullu witnessing the highest 26 instances. Shimla and Kinnaur districts recorded eight and five cloudburst instances, respectively. In August, seven cloudburst instances were recorded with Mandi recording the highest, four.

As per the report, seven record-breaking instances of rainfall were recorded from June to August. The records standing since 1966 and 1971 were broken during the monsoon period last year.