Monsoon 15% above normal in week ended July 22: IMD

Rainfall from the southwest monsoon was 15% above normal in the week ended July 22, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). This is the second consecutive week of above-average rainfall after a fairly long delay in arrival this season. Total rainfall since the beginning of June was 19% below average, improving from a 27% deficit in the previous week, the IMD said. Seventeen IMD subdivisions received ‘excess or normal’ category, while an equal number got ‘deficient' rainfall. The remaining two — Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi (deficit of 65%) and Bihar (64%) — recorded scanty rainfall. Higher rainfall filled up in main reservoirs to 23% of capacity in the past seven days, up from 14% a week ago.

But rainfall was scarce in Uttar Pradesh, and the weather office has forecast only scattered showers in the sugarcane-growing state. Widespread showers are forecast for Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the nation's main cotton and oilseeds regions. Widespread rainfall activity is likely with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over North Konkan during the next 24 hours and over Gujarat during the next 2-3 days, according to the latest IMD forecast. Subdued rainfall activity is likely over central and adjoining east and Peninsular India during the next 2-3 days.

Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls is likely over northeastern states, the weather bureau said. Fairly widespread rainfall activity is likely over foot hills of Himalayas and parts of plains of northwest India, it added. Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 48 hours, the IMD said.