After a dismal show in June, a swift recovery in July.
That's how weather scientists are describing the recent change in rainfall pattern in the state capital. Rainfall in Patna in June was the lowest in the past 50 years, with monsoon rain deficiency standing at 81 per cent. However, the situation has improved considerably in July as the city received 33 per cent surplus rainfall in the month, raising the total monsoon rainfall figure to one per cent surplus.
Similarly, the state-level rain deficiency that stood at 47 per cent, as on June 30, has come down to 23 per cent as on July 31. The state received 303mm rainfall between July 1 and July 31 as against the normal rainfall of 338mm, making a deficiency of 10 per cent. Patna, on the other hand, received 405mm of shower during the same period as against the normal rainfall of 302 mm, a 25 per cent surplus. (See graphics)
"Monsoon rainfall is normally higher in July and August, compared to June. Moreover, the reason behind good rainfall in July was a favourable position of the trough line from the middle of July, complemented with favourable local weather components in the state," Ashish Sen, director (radar) of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Patna, told The Telegraph on Wednesday.
Abdus Sattar, an assistant professor of meteorology, Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa, Samastipur, claimed that the reason leading to the recovery made in the rainfall deficiency in June were two spells of good shower during the month. "There were two spells of good rainfall ' July 5 to 8 and July 17 to 19. This led to swift recovery in the rainfall deficiency in the state. Apart from the two spells, there were almost low rainfalls in the rest of the days," he added.
Sen, on the other hand, said despite the overall surplus rainfall in the state in July, 23 out of 38 districts are still showing deficient rainfall. "The districts in north and central Bihar have received comparatively heavy rainfall than the remaining parts of the state," he added.
July rainfall apart, IMD has forecast more-than- normal rainfall in August across the country. "We are expecting above-normal rainfall in August across the country, including Bihar, because of some various favourable weather components, including expected formation of several low pressure areas during the month. Accordingly, we expect that the rainfall deficiency in the state would be entirely covered by August 30," Sen said.
Residents of the state capital can expect a rainy weekend ahead as IMD-Patna has forecast good rainfall across the state, including Patna, from August 4. "We are expecting good rainfall in the state from around August 4 because of the formation of a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal," he added.
The mid-day bulletin of IMD, New Delhi, on Wednesday stated that rains or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Bihar till August 4.
