Bhandara facing highest 58% rainfall deficit followed by Gondia (-47%), Gadchiroli (-41%), Nagpur (-22%) and Chandrapur (-22%) Nagpur received only 79.7 mm rain in June, third lowest in last 10 years  

 

 

 

Subdued start of Southwest Monsoon this year in Vidarbha has left five out of eleven districts with rainfall deficit by the end of June. Onset of monsoon in Vidarbha region gets underway till June 15. But this year, some districts reported the onset four days early whereas East Vidarbha received the first monsoon rains on June 21, reporting a delay of six days. Nagpur, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts are in rainfall deficit category by the end of June. Nagpur, Bhandara and Gondia districts are the only places where monsoon began almost 10 days after the actual onset of monsoon in South and West Vidarbha. Despite deficit rainfall in five districts, Vidarbha overall has witnessed normal monsoon in June. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Nagpur witnessed just 79.7 mm rainfall in June which is the third lowest in last 10 years.

 

In 2014, Nagpur city witnessed the lowest 72.4 mm rainfall in June. Thereafter, in 2019, Nagpur got the second lowest 72.6 mm and now 79.7 m was the third lowest in this decade. Nagpur district received 134.8 mm rainfall in June this year which was -22% of the normal (173.9 mm) rainfall. Bhandara district is facing the highest 58% deficit followed by Gondia (-47%), Gadchiroli (-41%), and Chandrapur districts (-22%). Bhandara received just 78.9 mm rainfall in June against 187.4 mm of normal rainfall. Similarly, Gondia received 103.6 mm rains in June against 196.5 mm of normal rains; Gadchiroli received 130.4 mm against 220.1 mm rains in June; and Chandrapur received 146.9 mm rains against 188.5 mm of normal rainfall till June 30. According to Skymet Weather, “The seas on either side of the coastline are synonymous with monsoon lows and depressions, after the ingress of monsoon currents. Both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea remained barren and failed to produce a single effective weather system. Truly, these systems are the drivers of monsoon for the country throughout the season. Southwest monsoon has completely run under its own internal energy and dynamics.”

 

The year gone past was a strong El Nino year. As it usually happens, the El Nino conditions continued effectively through the spring season. Under its influence, the north, west and central parts witnessed unprecedented oppressive heat. Seasonal rains were reduced to a trickle, leaving large deficiencies, stated a report of Skymet. “The El Nino seems to have softened and ENSO turned neutral. However, the hangover effect of El Nino is quite common and takes a few more weeks to settle score in the Pacific Ocean,” it stated.

 

Moderate rains lash city late night Despite rainfall deficit in June, the people of Nagpur experienced good rains in last couple of days. On Sunday night, widespread rains cooled down the temperature and caused water-logging at many part of the city. Power cut was also observed on Sunday night after the rains. The Weather Department predicted that no heavy rain will take place in the next 3-4 days due to absence of weather system in the Bay of Bengal or Arabia Sea. From Monday, the humid weather will prevail again due to absence of rains.