Post Monsoon Rains Over Punjab and Haryana

Southwest monsoon withdraws from Punjab and Haryana by the 3rd week of September. Occasionally, the rains do last till first week of October. The months of October and November are taken as post monsoon months and are considered as best weather period for North India with minimal rains over these two states. The late withdrawal of southwest monsoon or early passage of western disturbances, result in scattered rains on few days. This season, the southwest monsoon practically withdrew from Punjab and Haryana by September end. However, hardly any active system was seen over North India. And therefore, very little rainfall was experienced in few pockets during post monsoon season.

In the backdrop of such situation, the season commenced with a large deficiency of rainfall in October for both states: Punjab with 75% and Haryana, slightly better with 40%. Poor rains in November mounted these deficiencies further to 77% in Punjab and 53% in Haryana. For these two months put together, Punjab recorded rainfall of 6.7 mm against a normal of 28.1 mm and Haryana had a rainfall of 10.7 mm against 22.8 mm.

All three sub divisions of Punjab, namely, Majha, Doaba and Malwa performed poorly with only few small pockets as exception. Northern parts of Majha and Doaba, particularly, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Kapurthala remained a shade better than the others, with an overall deficiency of 40-50%. Most of the Malwa region and southern parts of Majha had a large deficiency ranging from 80-90%and even 100% at few places like Moga, Faridkot and Ferozepore.

The scenario in Haryana also was no better. The areas closer to the national capital Delhi,remained nearly dry and therefore districts of Sonipat, Rohtak and Mewat recorded zero rainfall. Few pockets over north and central Haryana like Karnal, Kaithal, and Yamunanagar recorded normal or excess rainfall.

Following poor rains in November, the weather conditions have remained mainly dry with low humidity level. Winter rains are expected to commence from mid-December for these two states and set the pace for most awaited wintry chill.