The vigorous monsoon over Northern and Eastern regions of the country during the last few days has narrowed the rainfall deficit to about one per cent of the normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has, however, predicted slowing down of monsoon phase after July 15.
The North-west region has received a surplus of nearly 18 per cent surplus rainfall than the normal while central India had a deficit of four per cent than the average. While the southern peninsula has received nine per cent more rainfall than normal, both eastern and north-eastern regions have rainfall deficits of five per cent than normal.
According to figures, nearly 54 per cent of the country has so far received normal rainfall, 28 per cent received excess rainfall and 18 per cent of the country received deficient rainfall.
The IMD has predicted a decrease in monsoon activity. The weather experts pointed out that after a spell of good rainfall in June, the monsoon weakened after June 25 and rainfall was weak thereafter. Similarly, due to a low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, the monsoon may have temporarily intensified in July, but is expected to slow down from mid of this week particularly in north, northwest, northeast and central India. This is because the low pressure area over Uttar Pradesh is moving in a North-Northwestern direction. This is slowly reducing rains over Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region in the days to com
However, rainfall in the foothills will increase including in certain parts of North India as Jammu and Kashmir, parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
According to IMD, below-normal rainfall in July and August is also due to the strengthening of El Niño. According to weather scientists, this year, it was predicted to be a 90 per cent chance of the El Niño continuing over the season. El Niño is a weather phenomenon resulting from the warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is usually associated with poor monsoon rainfall in India.
The areas with the highest deficit rains in the country are Gujarat, central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, coastal and north interior Karnataka, Rayalseema and Kerala. The northeastern States of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are also experiencing deficient rainfall as compared to the average rainfall.