From a heady start of 54% above average during the first week of June, the south-west monsoons have eased to a meager 3% above average in the week ending on Friday. The Capital that continued to swelter after a brief spell of early monsoons, mid of this month, may experience some relief on Tuesday.
According to the latest figures from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the rains suddenly plummeted this week whereby the total rains received by the country have been 48.8 mm, as against the normal of 47.4 mm.
However, on a whole, the country has so far received 180.7 mm, which is 37% above average. The IMD experts pointed out that nearly 92% area of the country has received excess/normal rainfall. The remaining 8% area has faced deficient/scanty rainfall.
The East and North-east India, however, continued with 34% deficit, even as Central India and South Peninsula, faced an excess of 25% and 31% respectively.
However, in the coming days, the experts have predicted rain/thundershower at most places in the east and the North-east including sub-Himalayan West Bengal & North-Eastern States as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, etc. This would further fan out to, lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and along west coast during the first half of the week and at many places during the second half of the week.
Explaining the situation, the experts informed that there is low pressure area formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and its vicinity. This has intensified into a well marked low pressure area over Odisha and its surroundings. Moving across to Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh it now lies over east Uttar Pradesh.
According to weather experts, this system has affected east, central and north peninsular India causing heavy to very heavy rainfall with maximum intensity over Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh.
The warning for the next 72 hours includes heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya. Few places over east Uttar Pradesh and east Madhya Pradesh is also likely to receive heavy downpour during next 48 hours and at one or two places for subsequent 24 hours.
Similar situation is expected to last over one or two places over Bihar and north Chhattisgarh during next 48 hours and parts of west coast during the next 72 hours.