Extremely heavy rains lashed the state of Meghalaya in the past 48hours. Right from Nongpoh to Shillong, across Bara Pani and Umiam Lake, torrential rains have barged the state, since the arrival of monsoon on 03rdJune. The rainiest towns of Cherrapunji and Mawsynram have repeatedly been drowned with frequent downpour, the most furious being in the last 48hours. Cherrapunji has recorded 972mm of rainfall in the past 24hr, the highest since 1995. Earlier, a day prior, the city witnessed another deluge of 811.6mm. It continues to pour cats and dogs, even today and is unlikely to abate soon.
Cherrapunji has monthly rainfall of 2589.6mm in June. It has already exceeded 3000mm this month so far, merely half way through June. It has a record of last 10 years of 4355.5mm established in June 2015 and an all time high of 5832.3mm set in 1966. Breaking last 10 years record of 2015 seems within reach this month. Mawsynram, a small town in the reserve forests, at an aerial distance of 12km west of Cherrapunji holds world record of highest ever rainfall of 2 days
Southwesterly winds have been converging over the eastern parts as apart of monsoon stream. This pattern is expected to continue between 17thand 19thJune. Persistent heavy rains will lash the entire state in general and Cherrapunji in particular during this period. A cyclonic circulation is likely to emerge over Gangetic West Bengal and Bangladesh on 20thJune and prevail in that area with minor shift, for the subsequent 3 days. The period between 20thand 24th may be a breather for the state of Meghalaya, before it catches up again when the circulation drifts westward.
Torrential rains of preceding days and the continuing spell will disrupt connectivity. As such being the mountainous terrain of undulating peaks, weather activity becomes hazardous and difficult to predict the scale. The worst for the state is possibly getting over tomorrow and gradually ease out later. However, landslides, roadblocks and felling of trees remain a possibility as a delayed response to the inclement weather conditions. City of Cherrapunji with a modest elevation of 4800’ is not prone to water logging and inundation, yet the continuous rains may hit the normal life of the mountainous resort.
