Heavy rain in last 24 hours offsets monsoon deficiency across Punjab

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, July 17

There have been widespread rains over north-western India during the past 24 hours and, as a result, monsoon in Punjab has now moved into the green zone. It was just on a par with normal last week and below the long period average before that.

The weather department has reported heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places in Himachal Pradesh and heavy rainfall at many places in Punjab and Haryana, which has brought down day temperatures and reduced the power demand.

From the morning of July 16 till the morning of July 17, Punjab received 17.4 mm rain against the long period average of 6.8 mm for this period, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This accounts for a surplus of 155 per cent.

While the Malwa belt in the southern part of the state received excess rain over the past 24 hours, some parts of Doaba remained deficient while most of the Majha region remained dry.

The districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in the north did not receive any rain, while Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts were deficient by 99 per cent and 80 per cent respectively, according to the IMD. Hoshiarpur and Moga were deficient by 57 per cent and 25 per cent respectively for this period.

Rain was in excess in all other districts of the agrarian state. Nawanshahar reported the highest deviation of 1,422 per cent followed by Fatehgarh Sahib with 990 per cent and Ferozepur with 841 per cent.

As far as the month of July is concerned, monsoon is 26 per cent above normal in Punjab, with the recorded precipitation for this period being 108.5 mm as compared to the normal of 86.2 mm.

Weathermen have predicted that isolated rainfall activity with thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the next three days and fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls, thunderstorm and lightning over the region during July 19-21.

There is also a forecast of scattered to fairly widespread light or moderate rainfall with isolated thunderstorm or lightning over the neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the next three days and fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls over the region during July 18 to 21, which is likely to impact the weather over Punjab.

More showers expected: MET

Weatherman has predicted that isolated rain with thunderstorm and lightning is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the next three days. Widespread rain, thunderstorm and lightning is expected in the region

Majha region remains dry

According to the IMD, Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts in the North didn’t receive any rain, while Amritsar and Tarn Taran were deficient by 99% and 80%, respectively.

Heavy rain in last 24 hours offsets monsoon deficiency across Punjab
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