The Southwest monsoon has covered the entire country two days ahead of its normal date after reaching the last frontiers of Kutch and Western Rajasthan. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country has so far received 4 per cent more rainfall than average.
As per the figures from IMD, the country has so far received 289.9 mm of rain as against the normal of 280.0 mm. All the four sub-regions are receiving good monsoon, except the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country, where the deficiency is 23 per cent. Central India on the other hand has received a surplus of 25 per cent rains already, with 367.6 mm of downpour in place of the average 293.7 mm.
In this week alone, the country as a whole registered 11 per cent of above average rainfall with Central India hitting a record of 91 per cent above normal rains. However, in sharp contrast the other three regions indicated deficient rains during the period. While the eastern and north eastern region, showed a shortfall of 47 per cent, by North west followed, with a deficit of 39 per cent.
The weather experts from IMD predicted above normal rains are likely over Indo-Gangetic plains and adjoining areas, till July 20 and over northeastern states till July 30. The peninsular India on the other hand is expected to receive near normal rains, till the end of the month. Monsoon will however be subdued over Central & West India from July 16 to July 30.
The country’s private weather forecaster Skymet however said that the monsoon over certain parts of the country will decrease considerably during the next 48 hours, after the vigorous phase. This according to the experts is due to the weakening of the low pressure over Northwest Madhya Pradesh. Such monsoon conditions are not expected to last more than a week.
The weather experts further predicted that with the monsoon trough showing a tendency to shift northwards towards the foothills of Himalayas, there will be significant rainfall in this region. Heavy to very heavy rains are expected along the Himalayan foothills, especially East Himalayas, particularly in the states of Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. Apart from this, Bihar, Jharkhand, along with other northeastern states as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh etc. will also witness good rains in the days to come.
Meanwhile, the water levels in the main reservoirs of the country stood at 29 percent, which is 11 percent higher as compared to the previous week. As per the data from the Ministry of Water Resources, this is however still down by 6 percent, as compared to its corresponding figure last year.