Delhi: Rain gods smile, but in unequal measure

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s monsoon deficit, which had touched around 40% at the start of August, has been wiped out completely. IMD has now placed the city’s overall rainfall in the “normal” category. However, data shows that the distribution of rainfall has been quite uneven.

So far, North district has received 554.3mm of rainfall this season, an excess of 40% and the highest in the city. However, North West and North East districts are struggling to get enough rain. North East district has received 370.2mm of rainfall compared with the normal mark of 491.6mm, placing it at a deficit of 25%. North West district has a deficit of 26%, receiving only 249.5mm of rainfall against the normal mark of 338.2mm.
After Wednesday’s rain, North and South West were in the “excess” range, but three districts were still rainfall deficient. This shows how unevenly the rainfall has been distributed this season. Central district, which has only received 210.3mm of rainfall, fares the worst at the moment with a deficit of 57%. Meanwhile, four districts, including East, New Delhi, South and West are in the “normal” range.
“North Delhi has received almost double the rainfall recorded in North West, even though both districts are adjacent to each other. Central district, which is not too far off, is close to plunging into the large deficient range,” said a Met official.
Two “heavy” rainfall days have been recorded in August so far, on Wednesday and on August 13. There were two heavy rainfall days in July too. On July 19, Safdarjung had received 74.8mm of rainfall and 67.6mm on July 23. Rainfall above 64.4mm in a single day is classified as “heavy” by IMD.
This season, Safdarjung, Palam and Lodhi Road stations are all in the “excess” category after Wednesday’s spell. The monthly data also shows an excess at these stations. This month, Palam has received 40% excess rainfall, followed by Safdarjung and Lodhi Road (15% extra). “Delhi tends to receive sufficient rainfall towards the end of the month. Light to moderate rainfall will continue this week,” said the Met official.