January is the rainiest month in the winter season for parts of North India. During this month, North India makes the largest contribution in the rainfall figures. This is followed by Central, East and Northeast India.
Meanwhile, Peninsular India witnesses minimal weather activity during January.
However this year, rains have been far and few for most parts of the country. From January 1 till January 27, country recorded mere 6.3 mm of rain against the monthly average of 15.9 mm. This has resulted in rain deficiency of 60%.
Out of 36 sub divisions, only 4 pockets have managed to receive excess rainfall, 8 reported to be normal, 3 deficient, 16 scanty and 5 with no rain at all.
According to Skymet Weather, no significant weather is likely during next couple days also. Only light rain and snow is likely over parts of hills of North India during next 48 hours. However, it will not be able to make much difference to the rain deficiency.
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Rainfall witnessed across the country
North India that receives the largest share of rains remained largely dry except Punjab. The state witnessed good wet spell during the second week of the month between January 7 and January 13.
No widespread heavy snowfall has occurred over the northern hills, so far. Jammu and Kashmir is presently experiencing rain deficiency of 76%, Himachal Pradesh 90% and Uttarakhand 93%.
Similar is the case with northern plains where Punjab is deficit by 81%, Haryana 99% and West Uttar Pradesh 87%.
However, Central India and adjoining parts of East India have done well on account of extended wet spell during the third week of the month.
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand along with some parts of Bihar and West Bengal witnessed some good showers with some places exceeding their monthly average rainfall as well.
Northeast India also continued with on and off winter rains. Assam and Meghalaya recorded excess rainfall by 22%, while Arunachal Pradesh was deficit by 17%. NMMT (Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura) region was also deficit by 28%.
Meanwhile Peninsular India, true to its characteristics, witnessed minimal weather activity. But parts of Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka recorded excess rainfall.
Image credit: en.wikipedia.org
