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14% less rainfall in northeast, India record lowest pre-monsoon in 65 years

As pre-monsoon season ended on May 31, the northeast region witnessed a gross rainfall deficiency to the tune of 14 percent.

According to a recent report by skymetweather.com, India recorded only 99 mm of rainfall against the normal average of 131.5 mm for the pre-monsoon season – March, April and May.

The three-month long pre-monsoon season ended in India with gross rainfall deficiency to the tune of 25 percent. All the four regions recorded deficit rains, the report said.

While the eight northeast states witnessed isolated rains and thunderstorms during the period, the hill state of Mizoram has found a place in the large deficient category states of India.

Ideally in the pre-monsoon season, Mizoram is supposed to receive about 240 mm of rainfall. Unfortunately, the state received only 71.5 mm with a deficit rainfall of about 70 percent.

This has been the second driest pre-Monsoon season in the last 65 years, the report by skymetweather.com said. It added that the pre-monsoon rainfall in 2019 was similar to that of 2009. That year too saw similar rainfall, resulting in 25% lag in rains.

The skymetweather.com also reported that one of the most prominent similarities between 2009 and 2019 is that they have been El Niño years. Thus, rains have been reacting in a somewhat identical pattern.

However, the Skymet Weather has already predicted below-normal monsoon to the tune of 93 per of the long period average.

Environment

Rainy week for Assam, Arunachal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura

The northeastern states of India that is Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are currently rain deficient. Although on and off rains were going on over parts of Northeast India, particularly over Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, but the intensity and spread remained on the lower side over most of the states. Thus, it failed to bring down the rain deficiency.

According to Skymet Weather, since the last few days, an Anti-Cyclone has been persisting over North Bay of Bengal, due to which moisture feed remained restricted over Northeast India.

Now a Cyclonic Circulation has formed over Assam and adjoining area. Along with this, the Anti-Cyclone is also moving away. Therefore, the moisture feed will increase over Northeast India in the form of southwesterly humid winds.

As a result, rain and thundershowers will now increase over all the states of Northeast India and these on and off weather activities will continue for at least one week. Isolated heavy spells also cannot be ruled out during this time.

We expect lightning strikes accompanied with hailstorm activity in few districts of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Thus, we can say that a rainy week is ahead for Northeast India. In the wake of these rains, by the end of March, we expect rain deficiency of the northeastern states to reduce to some extent.