Monsoon in Bihar to be delayed by almost a week

Piyush Tripathi | TNN | Updated: Apr 16, 2020, 07:06 IST

Aerial view of Patna

PATNA: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised the normal onset and withdrawal dates for southwest monsoon in Bihar.
As per a statement issued by Patna Meteorological Centre on Wednesday, the revised onset date for two representative stations of Gaya is June 16 against the earlier date of June 12, while it is June 18 for Chhapra against the earlier date of June 13.
For withdrawal of southwest monsoon, the revised date is October 8 for Gaya against the earlier date of October 12 and October 6 for Chhapra against the earlier date of October 8.
The normal dates of onset of monsoon have been revised based on data for the period 1961-2019, while the revised normal dates of withdrawal are based on data between 1971 and 2019.
Monsoon is making delayed onset in the state in most years at least over the past two decades. Monsoon makes its foray into mainland India through Kerala coast by June 1 and it is normally scheduled to enter Bihar through the northeastern districts of Purnia and Kishanganj around June 10-12 and takes another 2-4 days to cover the entire state.
However, in 2019, southwest monsoon made its onset on June 22 — a delay of around 11 days from its normal onset date. In 2015 also, the rain-bearing clouds entered the state on June 22.
“IMD headquarters decided to revise the onset and withdrawal of southwest monsoon following identification of consistent abnormality in the same at many places in the country. The change in monsoon onset and withdrawal dates has been made based on assessment of database of the same for past several decades,” said an official at Patna Meteorological Centre.
Meteorological experts termed the changes as nominal and remained concerned over the plunge in overall rainfall in the June to September season. “The onset and withdrawal dates have been revised by four to six days, which is quite nominal. Moreover, the monsoon onset date is a technical term for meteorologists and it is the intensity and distribution of rainfall, which concerns common people. Unfortunately, the amount of rainfall in all districts in Bihar except Sheohar has been found to be constantly decreasing between 1989 and 2017,” said Pradhan Parth Sarthi, secretary of Patna chapter of India Meteorological Society and professor of environmental science at Central University of South Bihar.
He attributed the gradual plunge in monsoon rainfall in the state to several factors, including reduction in the frequency of formation of depression over the Bay of Bengal and lack of formation of widespread monsoon clouds among others.
Rains expected at isolated places till April 18: Patna weatherman has predicted light showers with thunder or lightning at one or two places in Bihar, except southwest and south-central parts of the state till April 18. “The showers and thundering are expected due to a cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh and a western disturbance, which passed across Jammu and Kashmir a few days ago,” an official at the Met office said.