The States of Punjab and Haryana and their joint capital—Chandigarh—continue to receive scanty rainfall recording more than 60 per cent rainfall deficit during 2014 monsoon, a situation similar to the year 1987.
According to the local Met department, the two States and Union Territory are witnessing the same monsoon rainfall pattern, which was recorded nearly 27 years back in the year 1987.
Surender Pal, Director Chandigarh Met Department while talking to The Pioneer said, “The city had recorded a total monsoon deficit of 67 per cent in 1987 and the situation in Punjab and Haryana was also similar. During the ongoing monsoon, Chandigarh has so far recorded rainfall deficit of 63 per cent, Punjab 64 per cent and Haryana 65 per cent.”
The chances of heavy rainfall in September are bleak and the monsoon deficit is likely to increase further. The monsoon rainfall would be below normal this year and there is a possibility that the deficit may remain close to the record rainfall deficit in 1987, he said.
Partly cloudy conditions with possibility of rain/thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana is predicted during next 48 hours, he said. From June 1 to August 26, Haryana has received 124.9 mm rains against normal of 359.6 mm while Punjab has recorded 137.9 mm rains against normal of 383.8 mm.
In Haryana, the districts namely Panipat, Rohtak, Faridabad, Kurukshetra, Jhajjar, Kaithal among others are badly hit due to poor monsoon rains. Various parts of Haryana have recorded rain deficit of upto 89 per cent.
As per Met Department data, Rohtak has witnessed rainfall deficit of 89 per cent, Panipat 81 percent, Fatehabad 80 per cent, Sonepat 78 per cent, Kurukshetra 79 per cent, Jind 76 per cent, Kaithal 75 per cent, Palwal 72 per cent, Hisar 71 per cent so far. All districts witnessed scanty rainfall and Yamunagar witnessed least rain deficit of 46 per cent.
Similarly, the rainfall deficit of upto 89 per cent was recorded in parts of Punjab. In Punjab, places including Barnala recorded rain deficit of 89 per cent against normal, Sangrur 82 per cent, Mansa 82 per cent, Patiala 81 per cent, Amritsar 80 per cent, Ferozepur 79 per cent and Tarn Taran 75 per cent. Gurdaspur recorded least rain deficit of 25 per cent.
In 2013, Punjab received 468.4 mm rains against normal of 457.7 mm with 2 per cent surplus downpour while Haryana had witnessed rain deficit of 27 per cent recording 320.4 mm rains against normal rains of 438.3 mm.
The south-west monsoon had reached the region on July 1 and 2. last year, the monsoon had arrived on June 16, while in the year 2012, the monsoon reached here on July 6.
City’s hottest August in over two decades
The Union Territory of Chandigarh on Tuesday recorded 37.5 degree Celsius, the highest maximum temperature recorded in the month of August in past 27 years.
According to the Met Department, the previous highest maximum temperature for the month of August was 37.4 degree Celsius recorded on August 12 in 2006. And, it was on August 1, 1987 when the city had witnessed its hottest August ever, recording 39.2 degree Celsius. The high maximum temperature recorded in the city on Tuesday was four notches above normal while the minimum temperature settled at 26.2 degrees, up by three notches from normal.
A day before, the city had recorded maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. last year, the highest temperature for the month of August was 35.5 degrees recorded on August 4.
Meanwhile, the region continued to sizzle under heat wave with mercury levels reaching 40 degrees in several parts of the region. The temperature levels were recorded upto five notches above normal in parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday.
In Haryana, Hissar braved the severe heat wave at 40.5 degree Celsius, five degrees above normal. Among other places, Ambala recorded a high of 36.6 degree Celsius, four notches above normal, Bhiwani settled at a maximum of 38.8 degree Celsius, Karnal recorded 36 degrees and Narnual settled at 34 degree Celsius.
The holy city—Amritsar recorded maximum temperature of 37 degree Celsius, two notches above normal. Patiala and ludhiana settled at respective maximum temperature of 38.1 degree Celsius and 36.9 degrees.
In Himachal, the capital city Shimla recorded maximum temperature of 26.6 degree Celsius, six degrees above normal and minimum of 16.3 degree Celsius, two notches above normal.
Una recorded a maximum temperature of 37.6 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal, followed by Sunder Nagar at 36.6 degrees Celsius.