Haryana recorded its first rainfall deficit for August in three years, receiving 138.5 mm of rain against the normal 146.1 mm, a shortfall of 5%, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data.
The state’s rainfall departure for the month stood at -5%. Gurugram recorded 217.4 mm of rainfall against a normal of 185.1 mm, a surplus of 17%, placing the district in the normal rainfall category, as per IMD. The city received 66.5 mm of rainfall between August 21 and 27, which was 58% above its normal weekly rainfall. Among the districts with deficient rainfall, Ambala recorded a 37% deficit, Jind 51%, Kaithal 49%, Mahendergarh 27% and Sirsa 24%. Karnal recorded large deficient rainfall, with a deficit of 68%. Meanwhile, Bhiwani recorded the highest excess rainfall in Haryana, with a 41% positive departure from normal. The district received 138.8 mm of rainfall against the normal 98.6 mm. Fatehabad and Palwal recorded a 24% excess each, while Nuh recorded a 25% excess.
Six Haryana districts recorded deficient or largely deficient rainfall in August, even as most districts remained in the normal rainfall category.
Faridabad received 226 mm of rainfall against a normal of 210.4 mm, recording a surplus of 7%. Rainfall is classified as ‘excess’ when the departure from normal is between 20% and 59%; ‘large excess’ when it is 60% or more; ‘normal’ when the departure is between -19% and 19%; ‘deficient’ when it ranges from -20% to -59%; and ‘large deficient’ when the departure is between -60% and -99%, according to the IMD. The state had also recorded a rainfall deficit in July, receiving 109 mm of rain, 27% below the monthly normal of around 150 mm. Eighteen of Haryana’s 22 districts recorded deficient rainfall that month. The rainfall pattern improved in August, however, with the statewide deficit narrowing to 5% and most districts falling in the normal rainfall category.
Northern Haryana is expected to see moderate to heavy rain after September 1. “We already saw it coming that Northern India will receive comparatively less monsoon rain. For long stretches during June, July and August, the main rain-bearing monsoon axis remained shifted away from the Haryana-Punjab plains, often favouring Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh or Rajasthan,” he added.
An IMD official told HT that the uneven monsoon this year comes amid the development of El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific.
