‘Unusual patterns behind downpour in some parts, scanty rain in others’
Unusual atmospheric patterns in the peak monsoon month of July has led to heavy showers in central and western India, but scanty rainfall over the Gangetic plains and northwest India, which is crucial for a healthy farm output from the summer cropping season. The situation is expected to change only after Tuesday.
The patchy rains were due to an unusual pattern of a lowpressure area over Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh persisting for over a week, and the monsoon trough remaining south of its usual position through the past two weeks. Another unusual feature in the form of a depression developed on Saturday over northeast Arabian Sea off the Saurashtra coast, the weather office said.
There is a 46% rainfall deficiency over Gangetic West Bengal; 49% over Jharkhand; 44% over Bihar; 69% over eastern Uttar Pradesh and 59% over western Uttar Pradesh since June 1. But there is 81% excess rainfall over Marathwada; 112% excess over Saurashtra and
Kutch; 64% excess over Gujarat; 40% excess over western Madhya Pradesh; and 125% excess over Telangana. Overall, there is 13% excess rainfall in country.
“This deficit in rainfall over the Gangetic plains states is mainly the result of one low pressure area that formed over Odisha persisting for over a week, causing widespread and heavy rains over central India,” explained M Mohapatra, director general, India Meteorological Department.
Most of the northern Gangetic plains have been dry, and sowing has been impacted, while many districts have reported washing out of sown crops over central India, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of climate change and meteorology at Skymet Weather Services, a private forecaster.
The depression over the Arabian Sea is expected to cause heavy rain and squally weather over parts of Gujarat on Saturday.
The depression is likely to move gradually north-northwestwards along and off the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea during the next 24 hours.