Southwest monsoon leaves 28% of the country rain deficit

Southwest monsoon has further withdrawn from remaining parts of west Rajasthan, some parts of east Rajasthan and some more parts of Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. The withdrawal line of Southwest monsoon could be seen passing through Amritsar, Hissar, Jaipur, Deesa and Naliya.

As reiterated by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the cumulative rainfall deficit which was 11% on September 7, stagnated for almost ten days and failed to recover even once during this time. In fact the deficit increased to 12% on the 17^th and remains so till date.

Meteorological study breaks the entire country into four broad divisions namely-

• East & Northeast India (comprising of 7 sub-divisions)
• Northwest India (comprising of 9 sub-divisions)
• Central India (comprising of 10 sub-divisions)
• South India (comprising of 10 sub-divisions)

Rainfall Deficit Category in the sub-divisions

• 19% - Normal
• +20% - Excess
• -20%- Deficit
• -60%- Scanty

As of now, 72% of the total area of the country has received normal rainfall and rest of 28% received deficient rain. None of the places have received excess rain.

Rain deficit sub-divisions

North India- Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi tops the list with 56% deficit. West Uttar Pradesh is 55% deficit, East Uttar Pradesh is 42% rain deficit, Punjab 49% and the hill state of Himachal Pradesh is 36% deficit.

Northeast India- The sub-division of NMMT (Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura) is 25% deficit.

Central India- East Madhya Pradesh is 28% rain deficit and Marathawada is 39%.

South India- In Peninsular India only Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are 20% and 32% deficient, respectively.

Monsoon rains have concluded now in most parts of the country. Therefore, not many changes will be noticed in the cumulative deficiencies, barring South and Northeast India. In last few days Northwest and Central India have been witnessing 90 to 100% rainfall deficiency on a daily basis.

This has already raised concerns amongst weathermen who are keeping an eye on the cumulative rainfall deficit and fear a drought. The most essential condition amongst other weather parameters to declare a drought is that the rainfall deficiency should be 10% or beyond, which is exactly the case here.

Picture courtesy: thehindu.com