It seems the rain god is happy with the Capital and pouring his boons in abundance. Despite a lull for a few days in August, Delhi has received 67 per cent extra rainfall so far this monsoon. The record precipitation in the past two months is a highest in the last one decade.
It is not all. As per the prediction of the Met department, despite an early start, monsoon is here to stay for a while. “If we see the record of the past 10 years for the month of June and July, Delhi has received the highest rainfall in 2013. The total recorded rainfall until July 31 was 460 mm whereas the normal amount for this time is 276.1 mm. The
city has got an excess of 67 per cent rainfall,” said M Duraisamy, scientist at Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The next highest rainfall was recorded in 2006 at 437.6 mm.
“Till 8.30 am on August 7, the total rainfall since June 1 was 484.5 mm. The dry spell of four days (in August) pulled down the excess percentage of rainfall,” added Duraisamy. August, so far, has recorded rain measuring up to 24.5 mm which is 65 per cent less than the average rainfall of 69.1 mm.
Monsoon visited Delhi a little early on June 16 this year. However, exit of the same is not likely to occur anytime before September 20, Met officials said. “There is no relation with the end of monsoon with its onset. It entirely depends on the system. Withdrawal of monsoon starts from Western Rajasthan from September 1. It takes almost 20 days for the system to reach Delhi,” said M Mohapatra, scientist at IMD.
Explaining the reasons for having ample rainfall in the city, Mohapatra said, “There are several reasons for this. First, it is because the monsoon trough (index of monsoon) has been quite active as it moved from Ganganagar in Rajasthan to Allahabad in UP to Kolkata. Second, we have had more than average number of low pressures over the Bay of Bengal during this season which includes lows and depressions. Third, frequent western disturbances have also facilitated thunderstorms and heavy showers.”
The average low pressure systems (lPS) for the entire South Westerly monsoon (June to September) should be around 13 to 14, but in just two months and with another two left, the country has witnessed over 9 lPSs till now.
The year 2003 saw the maximum rainfall in the last 23 years for the months of June and July. “With a rainfall of 796.4 mm, 2003 had a record breaking monsoon in those two months,” informed M Duraisamy, scientist at Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).