The Hindu Business Line : Deficit stays at 2% as rains spread

Thiruvananthapuram, July 31 The burst of rainfall in peninsular India over the past few days has not just prevented the all-India deficit of two per cent from worsening any further but has also boosted the moisture profile across the region.

An India Meteorological Department (IMD) update on Thursday said that a ‘low’ originating in the Bay of Bengal revived the monsoon, ending a long dry spell. Many parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra experienced active to vigorous monsoon conditions.

Other parts of country too, received good rainfall activity.

The cumulative seasonal rainfall for the country remained below the Long Period Average value by two per cent. But rainfall distribution shows improvement over central and south peninsular India.

The number of deficient/scanty Met sub-divisions has since decreased (10 from 14), while that of normal sub-divisions has increased (12 to 18). Excess rainfall was limited to eight, only one less than the total last week.

In its forecast for the next week, the IMD said that two weather systems (low’s/cyclonic circulations) are likely to form over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay and move in a west-northwesterly direction.

Good rainfall activity is likely over Central India during the next three days in view of formation of the first system. Peninsular India, particularly Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, are likely to receive widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls during the four days ending August 5.

Northwest India will experience fairly widespread rainfall activity during the next three days. The west coast and the North-East are likely to receive near normal rainfall. But it will be below normal over East India.

The sudden spurt in rains over the northwest is being triggered by an embedded cyclonic circulation in a passing western disturbance and located over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

On Thursday, the monsoon trough passed through Barmer, Swaimadhopur, Umaria, Sambalpur, Paradeep and then southeastward into east-central Bay. An upper air cyclonic circulation hung over north Orissa and neighbourhood.