Pre-Monsoon activity in India during May has become widespread and vigorous only in the last few days, which is why the cumulative rainfall for the country has been deficient for the second consecutive week. The week from May 7 to May 13 has faced a deficit of 30%, while the previous week from April 30 to May 6 was short by 22%.
The worst performing sub-divisions this week have been in East India, parts of Central and North India. For instance Odisha in East India has received 3.7 mm of rain against an average of 18.5 mm, which amounts to 80% of rainfall deficiency. In Central India, Chhattisgarh with 0.3 mm of rain against the weekly average of 3.8 mm, was deficient by 93%.
Rain in North India
In North India, barring Punjab, which was surplus by 63% with 8 mm of rainfall against 4.9 mm, all the sub-divisions observed a shortage. Haryana was deficient by 77%, while west Uttar Pradesh experienced a deficiency of 47% with 1.9 mm of rainfall against weekly average of 3.6 mm. The three hilly sub-divisions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were also deficient.
Rain in South India
South India has been the best performing pocket this week. For instance, South Interior Karnataka received 22.8 mm of rain against the weekly average of 15.6 mm. North Interior Karnataka with 13.5 mm of rain against the average of 7.7 mm was surplus by 76%. Tamil Nadu was also surplus by 81% with 27.3 mm of rain against the average of 15.1 mm. Rayalaseema, Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh were the only sub-divisions to experience rainfall deficiency in the region.
Out of the 36 sub-divisions in the country 11 have recorded surplus rain, which includes coastal Karnataka, Marathwada and Madhya Maharashtra. Normal rainfall has been observed in only 8 sub-divisions, while 9 sub-divisions have experienced deficient rainfall this week. Scanty Rainfall (-60% to -99%) has been observed in 10 sub-divisions.
Rain forecast
In the last couple of days pre-Monsoon activity in the country, particularly in South India has gained pace with several places recording moderate to heavy amounts of rain. According to Skymet Meteorology Division, as Monsoon approaches pre-Monsoon activity becomes more frequent and intense, therefore we can expect some good amounts of rain in the current week. South India is going to be the pocket where the weather activity is going to be more vigorous.
March and April had been good months for the country in terms of rainfall activity. According to the data available with Skymet, the country observed 61.1 mm of rain against the monthly average of 30.9 mm in March, which is 98% surplus. While April recorded 66.1 mm of rain against the normal of 36.5 mm.
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