Biparjoy effect: Gujarat gets 19% of seasonal rainfall within a week

AHMEDABAD: While June accounts for 10-15% of the seasonal rainfall for Gujarat, cyclone Biparjoy gave a major kickstart to monsoon season for the state.
Gujarat received 19% of seasonal rainfall, whereas Saurashtra-Kutch got 39% of rains in a matter of one week from June 11 to 18.

Manorama Mohanty, the head of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Gujarat, said that very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy brought in a lot of rainfall before, during and after the landfall especially in areas such as Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Patan and Jamnagar.
As of Monday, the state has received 18.7% of rainfall, whereas Saurashtra-Kutch region has received 38.8% of seasonal rains. Even after the landfall, districts in north Gujarat continued to receive rains," she said. "The progress of southwest monsoon towards Gujarat is awaited. On Monday, southwest monsoon covered some more parts of south India. Its northern limit has reached south Maharashtra."
It's a role reversal of sorts for the regions. IMD data indicated that all the districts in south Gujarat are in deficit, whereas majority parts of Kutch and Saurashtra have received excessive rainfall. Traditionally, monsoon enters from south Gujarat and then gradually covers the entire state. South Gujarat also traditionally receives maximum rainfall.
The widespread rainfall has resulted in a rise of 20% water levels in dams and reservoirs in Kutch according to the state water resources department. While four dams have overflowed so far, six have been filled more than 80% of its capacity, added department officials.
Experts indicated that the cyclone years generally result in sub-par early July rainfall and peaking of monsoon only in late July or early August. August has traditionally remained the monsoon month with maximum rainfall. In both 2020 and 2021 - the years with cyclones on Gujarat coast - after a good start of monsoon the rainfall in July was below normal, indicated data.
Cyclone Biparjoy resulted in heavy rain in several districts of Gujarat along with strong winds that caused widespread destruction. Kutch was the most affected as the cyclone made landfall near Jakhau. Scores of villages are still reeling under the impact of the cyclone. Relief work in several areas of Kutch, Saurashtra and north Gujarat is going on by the state government and NGOs where hundreds have lost their homes and livelihood.
(With inputs from
Himanshu Kaushik)