The state of West Bengal enjoys a four-month-long Monsoon season. The Southwest Monsoon sets in early and the withdrawal is also very late. In fact, it is one of the rainiest pockets of the country.
However, this Monsoon season has been different and mostly disappointing so far for the state. The deficiency has been persisting since the very beginning of the season, with rains making only on and off appearance.
The month of July ended on a poor note with the rain deficiency of 47%, according to the data available with Skymet from June 1 to July 31.
During the month of August, some good rains did make an appearance that somehow managed to drop the deficiency to 28% (rain data from June 1 to August 31)
Despite a marginal improvement in the rain deficiency, the state has been one of the largest deficit pockets in the country so far.
What’s more concerning, on one hand, where the country was enjoying surplus rains in the month of July and August by 5% and 15% respectively, on the other hand, West Bengal was still reeling under high rain deficiency.
So much so that, all the 13 districts of the state have been rain deficient so far barring Purulia and Paschim Medinipur, which are deficient under normal category by 15% and 17% respectively (+/- 19 is normal). Murshidabad is rain deficient by 50%, followed by Howrah 45% and Kolkata 20%. (rainfall data between June 1 and September 2)
Forecast:
According to Skymet Weather, some rains are likely in West Bengal including Kolkata during the coming week in the wake of a Low-Pressure Area over Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal region.
Due to the subsequent movement of this system, light to moderate rains would occur for the next few days, with rains picking up some pace by the weekend. This trend will continue throughout the week and cover one or two days of the next week as well, wherein some good showers are likely.
Despite rains, we do not expect any significant improvement in the rainfall statistics of the state and deficiency would persist.
Moreover, throughout this episode, the rainfall activities would be comparatively more over South West Bengal (Kolkata, Digha, Medinipur) as compared to North West Bengal (Malda, Bankura, Purulia).
Image Credits – The Weather Channel
Any information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather
