Monsoon lags in Jharkhand; rainfall deficit reaches 59%
Jamshedpur, June 19: Jharkhand continues to grapple with a significant monsoon shortfall, with the state recording only 30.8 mm of rainfall against…
Jamshedpur, June 19: Jharkhand continues to grapple with a significant monsoon shortfall, with the state recording only 30.8 mm of rainfall against the normal 74.9 mm so far this season, resulting in an overall rainfall deficit of 59 per cent.
According to the latest weather data, Ranchi remains the only district to record surplus rainfall. The district received 86.9 mm of rainfall against the normal 77.5 mm, registering a positive departure of 12 per cent.
Several Districts Face Severe Rainfall Deficit
Several districts have reported acute rainfall shortages. Garhwa recorded no rainfall against its normal 46.7 mm, while Palamu and Sahibganj registered deficits of 97 per cent each.
Other districts among the worst affected include Chatra (-95%), Lohardaga (-94%), and Seraikela-Kharsawan (-84%). East Singhbhum received only 39.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 112.4 mm, reflecting a deficit of 65 per cent.
IMD Tracks Monsoon Progress Across Region
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the seasonal trough at mean sea level extending from Punjab to Bihar via Haryana and Uttar Pradesh continues to persist.
Another trough extends from Jharkhand to Coastal Andhra Pradesh across Vidarbha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh at about 0.9 km above mean sea level.
The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) currently passes through Harnai, Solapur, Hyderabad, Bhadrachalam, Koraput, Phulbani, Ranchi, Jamui, and Muzaffarpur.
Meteorologists said conditions remain favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into more parts of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh over the next four to five days.
Thunderstorms and Gusty Winds Likely Across State
During the past 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms was reported at isolated places across Jharkhand.
The highest rainfall of 35 mm was recorded at Balumath KVK AWS in Latehar district. Daltonganj registered the state’s highest maximum temperature at 42.4°C, while the lowest minimum temperature of 20.6°C was recorded at Latehar.
The weather department has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across most parts of the state over the next week.
Wind speeds of 50-60 kmph are likely at isolated places over eastern and adjoining central Jharkhand on June 18. Gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, are expected at isolated locations across the state from June 19 to June 24.
Officials expressed hope that the expected advancement of the monsoon and the forecast rainfall activity would help reduce the widening seasonal deficit by the end of this month.
