Monsoon onset likely in Bihar by mid of June

PATNA: With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday predicting a delayed onset of Southwest monsoon over Kerala, weathermen in Patna said Bihar will only witness the arrival of rain-bearing winds by June 13 or 14.
Th Southwest monsoon reaches Kerala every year on June 1. However, this year's monsoon onset over Kerala is expected to be later than the usual date, with a likely arrival on June 4, with a model error of (+/-)as per the IMD statement.
In a statement released on April 11, the IMD projected that the four-month-long monsoon season from June to September will bring 96% of the long-period average rainfall of 87cm for the entire country. The eastern region is expected to receive normal rainfall during this monsoon season.
Ashish Kumar Singh, scientist at the Patna Meteorological Centre, said, "Bihar is likely to have normal to slightly below normal rainfall this year, based on global weather phenomena and our climatological model."
The forecast also indicates that La Nina conditions in the equatorial Pacific are presently neutral, but El Nino conditions are expected to develop during the monsoon season. "Typically, La Nina transitions into El Nino during the monsoon season, and its influence on the climate tends to result in reduced rainfall activities," Ashish said. The IMD will issue updated monsoon forecasts in the last week of May.
Last year, Bihar faced a significant rainfall deficit during the monsoon season, with a shortfall of 31%, the lowest recorded since 2012.
Meanwhile, parts of north Bihar, including West and East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, and Madhubani, saw rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40kmph) on Wednesday.
The Patna Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow-coloured alert for thundershowers with lightning, primarily in isolated areas of North Bihar over the next four days, and in isolated areas across the state on Sunday.