The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday stated that several areas received normal to above-normal rainfall in July 2024, favorable to crop cultivation. The IMD had also predicted that the second part of monsoon season was going to be more than normal with 106% rainfall.

Rainfall Patterns and Regional Variations in the Second Part of Monsoon

The IMD has reported that while India as a whole has received 9 percent more rainfall than usual in July, there are notable regional discrepancies. Specifically, the northeastern and eastern regions are expected to experience below-normal rainfall during the latter part of the monsoon season. The agency noted, "Deficient rainfall was recorded in July in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, adjoining Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. July rainfall in the northwest is 14.3% below normal."

In addition, Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, and Odisha received insufficient rainfall in July. The weather in these areas was also warmer than average, with the mean temperature reaching approximately 28.65 degrees Celsius and the average minimum temperature at 24.99 degrees Celsius. This marks the second-highest temperature record since 1901.

second part of monsoon
Image Source: Absortech

Looking ahead, the IMD expects the monsoon to gain momentum and deliver significant rainfall during the first week of August. However, central India may experience ‘normal to below normal’ rainfall during this period. The IMD has also issued a red warning for excessive showers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for the next five days, anticipating heavy rainfall intensity. After August 8, the IMD forecasts a potential drop in rainfall across the country for a few days.

Upcoming Weather Alerts and Regional Impact in the Second Part of Monsoon

The IMD has specifically highlighted that Odisha will face heavy rain on August 1st and 2nd. A yellow warning has been issued for ‘Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall’ (7 cm to 20 cm) in several districts, including Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, and Sambalpur. Additionally, heavy to very heavy rain is expected in Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Nayagarh, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Kalahandi, with rainfall ranging from 7-11 cm.

In May, the IMD had forecasted that the entire country would experience above-average rainfall during the monsoon season from June to September 2024. The seasonal rainfall for the Southwest monsoon was projected to reach about 106 percent of the long-term average. Despite this, the IMD anticipated that several regions, including northern Northwest India, northeast India, eastern Central India, and adjacent eastern areas, would experience below-normal to normal rainfall.

Data from the IMD indicates that while the southern and some central Peninsular regions recorded above-average rainfall, many eastern and northeastern districts experienced a significant deficit, with a shortfall of 23.3 percent. The northwestern region also saw a 14.3 percent decrease in rainfall compared to normal levels.

However, these regional discrepancies are expected to be moderated as the second part of the monsoon season progresses. The above-average rainfall in July has already helped reduce the monsoon deficit accumulated in June by 10.9 percent. Overall, India has received 1.8 percent more rainfall than the average from June till date, reflecting a recovery from earlier deficiencies.

As the monsoon season advances, it will be crucial for regional planning and preparedness to address these varied weather patterns and ensure effective response strategies for affected areas.

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