Uttarakhand receives 32% surplus pre-monsoon showers this year
With the state receiving a 32% surplus pre-monsoon rain from March 1 to May 31, hopes are high for a good monsoon — likely to lash Uttarakhand around June 20 — season this year.
Rainfall data with the meteorological centre suggest Uttarakhand has received 205.6 mm, 49.7 mm more than the normal 155.9 mm rainfall, except in Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts, where rain deficit was recorded by 69% and 19%, respectively, during the pre-monsoon season.
On the contrary, according to the Indian meteorological department, the state had in 2016 recorded a “normal” pre-monsoon rain at 154 mm against the normal level of 155.9 mm.
Last year, Rudraprayag district was the wettest among all 13 districts with 83% excess rainfall, closely followed by Nainital with 77%. Dehradun also recorded 25% surplus rain while Haridwar received 23% excess showers.
Meteorological centre director Bikram Singh said, “This pre-monsoon season, Uttarakhand witnessed good rainfall with 10 districts receiving excess rains. Despite sluggish rainfall in March, April and May received plenty of rain.” Significantly, May recorded 66% surplus rain at 108.5 mm against the normal 55 mm rainfall.
The hilly state witnessed staggering 139% rain surplus in the last week of May with Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts receiving more than 300% surplus rain than normal. Only Udham Singh Nagar recorded a shortfall of 82% in the last week of the pre-monsoon season.
