NEW DELHI: With just 33.7mm of rainfall recorded in August so far, Safdarjung, the city’s base weather station, has recorded a deficit of 81% this month. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said no major rain activity was expected in the next six days. The normal rainfall for August (247.7mm) is the highest in the entire year. However, IMD’s data showed that Safdarjung was able to surpass the normal mark only twice in the past 10 years recording excess rainfall of 321.4 and 378.8mm in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Since 2014, the city has been recording a rainfall deficit in August continuously. This August, the city has witnessed 10 rainy days, but of low intensity. Safdarjung reported just “trace” rainfall for three days and on other days mostly recorded “very light” to “light” showers. Explaining the reasons behind the low rainfall, RK Jenamani, senior scientist, IMD, said, “No low pressure system, which led to record rainfall last year, has been within 300-400km of Delhi. Though eight low pressure systems affected parts of the country, none of them impacted Delhi. Besides, no western disturbance interacted with the monsoonal system.” “The monsoon trough moved closer to Delhi on two occasions, August 5-7 and 14-16. Though it crossed Delhi twice in the second half of August, it moved quickly,” Jenamani added. According to IMD, August 2021 ended in deficit, but logged 214.5mm of rainfall and saw one day of “heavy” rain activity. However, there was a possibility of very light rain or drizzle for the next two days and generally cloudy skies from August 26 to 28. Intense rain activity is unlikely for the next six days. This August may end in a deficit. “The normal onset of monsoon over Delhi is June 27 and, at times, it arrives in July. The monsoon withdraws in September, so August normally records more rainy days,” said Jenamani. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature was recorded at 36.1 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, on Monday. The minimum temperature settled at 27.6 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. The relative humidity oscillated between 56% and 88%.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/safdarjung-stares-at-rain-deficit-of-81-in-august-so-far/articleshow/93717355.cms
