Rainfall deficiency hits 70 pc in J&K , monsoon to arrive in last week July
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded ‘large deficient’ rainfall in the last three months as the union territory has recorded a precipitation deficit of 70 per cent from the normal between March 1 to May 26.
However in the past week or so the heat wave has abated to a large extent in Jammu region and it is unlikely the mercury will be soaring in the near future as Monsoon is likely to hit Jammu and Kashmir as per its scheduled arrival anywhere between last week of June to first week of July.
As per weather official this year J&K received largely 69.7% deficient rain due to the absence of any strong western disturbance or the winds blowing from the Mediterranean bringing moisture. Sonam Lotus, director of the meteorological centre, J&K, said the phenomenon was nothing new. “This is not the first time that below normal rainfall was recorded in J&K,” he said. The lack of a strong weather system and deficit rainfall also led to an increase in normal temperatures this year.
“As a result of the absence of any strong western disturbance and stable atmosphere, weather remained fair and mainly clear on most occasions which led to early onset of spring and above normal temperatures compared to last few years,” Lotus said.
Lotus further shared, “The monsoon will arrive Jammu and Kashmir as per routine between last week of June to first week of July”.
Nonetheless, five districts of Jammu and Kashmir including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Pulwama and Udhampur have recorded deficient rainfall while rest 15 districts have been categorized in large deficient rainfall.
“Against the normal 609.7 mm rainfall, J&K has received only 185.8 mm rainfall in the last three months,” the data reads. In the Jammu region the districts with the worst deficit in rainfall included Kishtwar with 99% deficit and Samba with 93 % deficit rainfall. Kishtwar has received only 5 mm rainfall against normal of 382.2mm rainfall, while Samba only received 12 mm rainfall against normal of 166.7mm. While in Kashmir region Shopian recorded 80% deficit in rainfall as against 322 mm of normal rainfall the district only received 64.5 mm rainfall.
The others districts in large deficient category included-Doda -74%, Jammu -72%, Kathua -76%, Poonch -71%, Rajouri -61%, Ramban -75%, Reasi -72%, Anantnag -68%, Budgam -66%, Bandipore -72%, Kulgam -69% and with Kupwara -66%, these have barely received rainfall in last three odd months.
However the situation has eased to an extent in the past one week as Jammu and Kashmir received 22.6 mm rainfall in total against the normal of 30.95 mm rainfall with 19% deficit. In fact Udhampur and Reasi districts have received excess rainfall in the past one week recording 238% and 229 % rainfall respectively. Kishtwar has not received even a single drop of rain, thereby remaining largely deficient with -100% from May 20 to 26.
