January 2023 witnessed intense Western disturbances in comparison to November and December of 2022. Cold and wintry conditions commenced from the beginning of January. Western Himalayas witnessed widespread rain and snowfall activities.
On the other hand, Northwest and Central India as well as eastern parts of the country remained almost dry. Southern states of the country also witnessed almost dry weather conditions. Country-wide rainfall in January 2023 is just 14.8 mm. Despite numerous Western disturbances, the weather of entire country except Western Himalayas remained dry until January 28.
An induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan along with the moisture feed from Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal has given good rain over Northwest and central parts of the country between January 29 and 31.
In the last four years 18.5 mm rain occurred in January 2019, in 2020 it was 28.3, rain in January 2021 was 20.2 mm and 39.5 mm in 2022. Thus, this has been the least rainy January in the past five years.
The main deficiency was witnessed over central, east and Northeastern and Southern states of the country. East and northeast India was deficient by 89%, central India by 75% and South Peninsula by 65%. Northwest India received 28% surplus rain.
