Good rainfall this month narrows the seasonal rainfall deficit

New Delhi. Due to heavy rainfall across various states during the current month (September), the rainfall deficit relative to the long-period average has narrowed to 5 percent on a monthly basis and to 12 percent on a seasonal basis (June–September).

According to the Meteorological Department, further heavy rainfall is expected in the near future. Significant fluctuations in daily rainfall have been observed throughout September; rainfall levels have ranged from 59 percent below the normal average to 162 percent above it. Consequently, total rainfall for the month has remained close to the normal average so far. Additionally, the heavy rainfall this month has reduced the seasonal rainfall deficit from 14 percent in August to 12 percent in September. Good rainfall has occurred in several areas that were previously experiencing a severe rainfall deficit. Heavy rainfall is also expected in parts of South India over the next day or two.

It is noteworthy that the Meteorological Department had initially forecast rainfall significantly below the long-period average for September; however, it has now reported that the country has received 152.6 mm of rainfall so far this month, which is merely 5 percent below the normal average. On September 26, the country recorded a rainfall surplus of 162 percent—the highest single-day rainfall recorded during the entire monsoon season. On that day, four meteorological subdivisions recorded rainfall exceeding 1,500 percent of the normal average. This surplus rainfall stood at 3,003 percent in Western Uttar Pradesh, 1,580 percent in East Madhya Pradesh, 1,537 percent in Chhattisgarh, and 1,518 percent in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Furthermore, heavy rainfall occurred in several other states during the month, including Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.