2% rain deficit in country as El Nino drags monsoon

From 5% excess rain at the end of July, a weak monsoon spell in August has led to a 2% rain deficiency across the country as of August 13, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday

- Jayashree Nandi , Zia Haq

The monsoon entered a weak phase last week, which experts said is a typical impact of El Nino. The IMD's extended range forecast indicates a temporary revival of rainfall only over central India after August 18 but dry conditions in early September.

While most parts of the country remained dry during the past seven days, the Himalayan foothills including the northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the northeastern states received very heavy rain, leading to floods and several incidents of landslides.

This is mainly because the monsoon trough is lying to the north of its normal position. It is likely to be north of its normal position or along the foothills of the Himalayas during the next 4-5 days and gradually shift southwards towards its normal position thereafter, the IMD said on Sunday.

There is a 2% rain deficiency over the country with 19% deficiency over east and northeast India; 15% excess over northwest India; 2% excess over central India and 8% deficiency over the southern peninsula. Parts of east India, particularly the paddy growing regions of the IndoGangetic plains, continue to record a rain deficiency with Gangetic West Bengal recording a 29% deficiency; Jharkhand 37%; Bihar 28%; and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura 24%. There is 42% rain deficiency over Kerala and Mahe; 20% deficiency over south interior Karnataka, and 22% over the Rayalseema region.

Rainfall during August is likely to be 'below normal' ranging between 90% and 94% of the long period average, the IMD had forecast on July 31. August and September receive around 46% of monsoon seasonal rain.