September rain will not be enough to compensate for deficient rainfall in northwest and northeast states of India, says IMD forecast
September rain will not be enough to compensate for the deficient rainfall in Odisha, Gujarat and states in the North East, according to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD forecast for September, the last month of the four-month season, has indicated normal rain.
“Rainfall averaged over the country in September 2021 is most likely to be above normal (> 110 per cent of long period average),” said the forecast released September 1 morning.
At the end of August, that covered three months of the monsoon season, rainfall in India was deficient by 10 per cent.
However, the spatial distribution of rainfall has been widely diverse. By August end, 10 Union territories / states experienced rain deficit of 23-52 per cent. Most of these states were in the northeast and northwest regions.
Manipur, for instance, reported a 58 per cent deficit rainfall by August-end; Gujarat received 50 per cent less rainfall than normal. In the eastern region, Odisha experienced 29 per cent deficit rain and Kerala received 22 per cent less rainfall than normal.
To put it in perspective, more than 36 per cent of India’s total districts received less rainfall than normal.
“Normal to below-normal rainfall is most likely to continue over many areas of northwest and northeast India and southern most parts of peninsular India,” the IMD statement read.
This means the already rainfall-deficient states like Gujarat, Kerala and Odisha would continue to report less rainfall. State governments have already put in place contingency plans to avert widespread crop loss and take up emergency measures to save standing crops.
According to IMD, the above average rainfall in September will make this season a normal one for the third consecutive year.
“The long period average (LPA) of rainfall in September, based on the data of 1961-2010, is about 170 millimetres. The current deficiency of 9 per cent in seasonal rainfall from June-August is likely to reduce due to the above normal rainfall activity in September. The accumulated seasonal rainfall from June 1-September 30 2021 is very likely to be around the lower end of the normal,” said IMD.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.