With vital June-August monsoon rains remaining far short of the normal quantum this year and possibility of heavy rainfall in next fortnight looking rather bleak, the city is heading towards a high rainfall deficit after more than two decades.
According to Chandigarh Meteorological Department, the possibility of heavy rainfall before the monsoon withdrawal in September remains bleak and the city is likely to witness a high rainfall deficit this year.
At present, the monsoon rain deficit stands at 55 per cent in Chandigarh. From June 1 to September 16, the city has received 354.5 mm rainfall against normal of 787 mm during the given time period.
In the past, the city had recorded highest monsoon rain deficit of 67 per cent in 1987.
As per the data with local Met Department, in past one decade, the driest monsoon was witnessed in 2006 with 36 per cent rain deficit in Chandigarh.
During monsoon 2013, the city had received 792.7 mm of rainfall against the normal seasonal rainfall of 844.2 mm with an overall deficiency of six per cent, the rainfall lies in normal category.
“During the period 1971-2013, the city has received excess rainfall in 13 years, normal in 20 years and deficient in 9 years. Rainfall was scanty only in the year 1987. The city received highest rainfall in 1988 (+106.5 per cent) followed by 1994 (+55.7 per cent) and 1971 (+54.2 per cent). During the preceding decade i.e. 2004 – 2013, the rainfall was excess in two, normal in six and deficient in two seasons. The wettest season was 2010 (+377.9 per cent) and the driest was in 2006 (-36 per cent),” as per the Met Department observations.
Surender Pal, Director, Chandigarh Met Department while talking to The Pioneer said, “The monsoon deficit is likely to remain high this year across the region. There is possibility of rainfall activity around September 24, 25, however, the deficit is likely to remain high in Chandigarh.
He added, “The rain deficit is likely to narrow down further in Punjab and Haryana in next fortnight.”
As of now, the monsoon rain deficit for Haryana is 54 per cent and it is 47 per cent in Punjab. From June 1 to September 16, Punjab has received 242.4 mm rainfall against normal of 456.6 while neighboring Haryana has recorded 199.4 mm rains against 437.7 normal rainfall during the same time period.
In Punjab, Barnala is witnessing highest rain deficit of 81 per cent after receiving only 61.3 mm rainfall so far. And, Rohtak in Haryana has recorded rain deficit of 80 per cent after receiving only 98.9 mm rainfall against normal of 491.9 mm from June to September 16.
During the monsoon in 2013, Haryana had witnessed rain deficit of 23 per cent after recording 356.7 mm rains against normal rains of 460.4 mm. Punjab had received 480 mm rains against normal of 491.5 mm with -2 per cent deviation from the normal.
As per the Met Department data, Punjab had witnessed highest rainfall deficit of 47 per cent in 2012 in past one decade. Similarly, Haryana had recorded high rainfall deficit of 59 per cent during 2009 monsoon.