Wettest February for city in 16 years

Ludhiana: It has been the wettest February for Ludhiana in the past 16 years, the data of meteorological department of Punjab Agricultural University has revealed.
While the whole February saw 95.6mm rainfall in 2019, the district had seen 140.9mm rainfall in February of 2003.

The data of the PAU meteorological department also showed that first fortnight of February in 2019 had received the highest rainfall in the past 49 years. During the first 15 days of February, Ludhiana received 75.6 mm rainfall against the normal of 33.2 mm, which was 43.3mm above normal.

The second highest rainfall (71.7 mm) was received during 2007. The lowest rainfall (4.6 mm) was reported in February 2012.

In 1981, Ludhiana had received 12.6mm, 22mm in 1982 and 47.5 mm in 1986, 12.2mm in 1991 and 42.2mm in 1996.

Dr K K Gill, assistant agrometeorologist at Punjab Agricultural University, said, “This February received the maximum rainfall since 2003. This is due to frequent western disturbances.”

The average maximum temperature of Ludhiana remained 20.2°C which is a degree less than normal and minimum temperature remained 9°C which is two degrees above normal.

Gill said, “The rains have resulted in the prolonged winters which are beneficial for wheat crop. If temperature rises above the normal, it causes forced maturity and affects the yield and reduces the size of grain.”

Highlighting the adverse side, she said, “It has negatively affected vegetable crops specially in the low lying areas where water could not be drained out.”