The Hindu Business Line : Monsoon rains beyond IMD expectations

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the 2006 monsoon seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole is "slightly more" than what it had predicted in the long range forecast.

But forecasts for July rainfall and the seasonal rainfall over northwest India and the South Peninsula have proved to be accurate, it said in the "end of season" report.

99 PC of LPA

Seasonal rainfall from June 1 to September 30 was 99 per cent of the long period average (LPA). Over Central India, it was excess by 16 per cent, while it was 94 per cent and 95 per cent of the LPA respectively over Northwest India and the South Peninsula. It was deficient over Northeast India by 17 per cent. Out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, the seasonal rainfall was excess in six, and normal in 20 sub-divisions. But it was deficient in 10 others.

Of the 533 meteorological districts, 60 per cent received excess/normal rainfall. The rest had deficient or scanty rainfall. At least 130 districts (25 per cent) experienced moderate drought while 30 others (six per cent) severe drought conditions.

LULL PERIODS

Monsoon arrived over Kerala on May 26, almost a week prior to the normal date. It advanced steadily and covered the western parts of Peninsular India and Northeast India by June 6. But there was a prolonged hiatus from June 7 to 22. A second hiatus lasted for eight days (July 1 to 8).

The season had been quite active in terms of the number of rain-generating low-pressure systems. In all, 16 systems of varying intensity formed during the season. All, except one land depression and a severe cyclonic storm over Arabian Sea, arose from the Bay of Bengal.

POOR DISTRIBUTION

The near normal performance of the monsoon over the country is attributed mainly to the excess rainfall in central India. On the other hand, this also resulted in the poor distribution of rainfall in space and time.

In the absence of `break-like' conditions in August, the monsoon trough languished south of its normal position. This translated into deficient rainfall over northern parts of India, especially, over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Northeast India.

Monsoon withdrew from western parts of Punjab and most parts of West Rajasthan on September 21.

More Stories on : Climate & Weather | Climate & Weather | Outlook

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page