No heavy rain in sight though weatherman hopeful of breaching deficit

The weather bulletin released on Sunday suggested that the State will merely register light to moderate rainfall for the coming five days. “As per the prediction, there will be no heavy rainfall for the next five days. Mercury level is likely to remain constant. Due to diversion of monsoon turf to the foothills of Himalaya, the chances of heavy downpour across Jharkhand have become feeble,” said an official of MET Observatory Centre – Ranchi.

On Sunday, gusty wind followed by drizzle and thunderstorm lashed Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Khunti and Bokaro bringing the temperature down in the evening. An official of the MET Observatory Centre —Ranchi stated that in the coming month, deficit level will be filled up. According to the rainfall statistics of Jharkhand released by the MET Observatory Centre —Ranchi on Sunday from June 1 to July 1, (-) 37 mm deficit is recorded. 

As per the data of MET Ranchi, by far, 129 mm rainfall had been recorded covering the entire State. According to the weathermen, in one month over 206.7 mm rainfall is considered normal. Due to the development of low pressure system over Northwest Pacific Ocean, weak cross equatorial flow, unfavorable location of active phase of Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), the advancement of South-West (SW) monsoon was severely affected.

Maximum deficit level was registered in Khunti district with (-) 84mm rainfall. Khunti recorded merely 40.3 mm rainfall in a month since the onset of monsoon season while 253.3 mm rainfall is considered normal for the respective district. Similarly, Chatra, Koderma including Sahibganj had recorded lowest rainfall from June 1 to July 1, 2018.

Meanwhile, Hazaribagh, Jamtara, Dhanbad, West Singbhum and East Singhbhum had registered sufficient amount of rainfall bridging the deficit level gap. Both weathermen including Agro-MET experts have stated that the deficit level is expected to get filled up soon. “The monsoon will be normal here in Jharkhand as per the earlier prediction of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). By mid July, the rainfall deficit level at maximum districts will be covered up benefiting all those associated with the agricultural sector.” In context to Jharkhand, following all the criteria of the MET, about 1092 mm rainfall throughout the monsoon season is categorized under normal or above normal category.

Furthermore, Agro-MET expert of Birsa Agriculture University, A Wadood said that farmers need not worry as the condition this season is favourable for them. “Though monsoon has hit Jharkhand late but still 1.5 months is remaining where the deficit level will be filled up easily. Moisture content, cloudy sky and light rainfall is going to help the farmers immensely in the sowing period that had already begun,” Wadood added. In addition, according to IMD prediction, the country is likely to receive a strong monsoon in July and dip only slightly below the normal average in August.