March and April had been good months for the country in terms of rainfall activity. According to the data available with Skymet, the country observed 61.1 mm of rain against the monthly average of 30.9 mm in March, which is 98% surplus. While April recorded 66.1 mm of rain against the normal of 36.5 mm.
But the week from April 30 to May 6 has panned out a little differently. The entire country has been reeling under intense heat with very little rain being observed anywhere. Northeast and South India have been the only pockets to experience some rain. Therefore the rainfall deficit for the country during the week (April 30 to May 6) stands at 22%.
Parts of West, Central and North India have been highly deficit. For instance, Saurashtra and Gujarat sub-divisions in West India have observed nil rain this week. West Rajasthan has also observed nil rain, while East Rajasthan is deficit by 96%.
Rain in North India
In North India, the sub-division of Punjab with 0.6 mm of rain has been deficit by 81%. The hill state of Himachal Pradesh has only received 8.2 mm of rain against the weekly average of 13.8 mm, making it deficit by 40%.
Rain in Northeast India
Despite being the most weather intensive pocket, Northeast India has also been deficit. For example, the sub-division of Assam and Meghalaya has received 50.8 mm of rain against the weekly average of 75.1 mm. Arunachal Pradesh with 40.9 mm of rain against the average of 65.2 mm has been deficit by 37%.
Rain in East India
In East India, the sub-divisions of west Uttar Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have also been deficit. The deficit in East UP and Bihar stands at 93% and 74%, respectively.
Rain in South India
Down south, the sub-divisions of South Interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema have done well and are surplus by 41% and 25%, respectively. However, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have fallen short of the average weekly rainfall and are deficit by 44% and 30%, respectively.
Out of the 36 sub-divisions in the country only 7 have recorded surplus rain, which includes Vidarbha, Marathwada and Madhya Maharashtra. Normal rainfall has been observed in 8 sub-divisions, while 9 sub-divisions have experienced deficient rain this week.
Rain forecast
Meanwhile, there is a weather system approaching Jammu and Kashmir by the end of the week, which will give good amounts of rain in North and East India. There’s also chances of rain in Peninsular India next week due to a cyclonic circulation building in the Bay of Bengal. In view of some good rain, the deficit is expected to be wiped out next week.
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