India records 8% surplus rainfall as monsoon ends, IMD reports mixed regional trends
PTC Web Desk: The four-month-long southwest monsoon officially concluded on Tuesday with India receiving 8 per cent above-normal rainfall, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra described the 2024 season as a “very successful” monsoon, though he acknowledged that it was accompanied by several natural disasters, including cloudbursts, landslides, and mudslides in different parts of the country.
Between June and September, India registered 937.2 mm of rainfall, against the long-period average of 868.6 mm. While the overall surplus painted a positive picture, regional variations highlighted worrying patterns, particularly in the east and northeast.
The east and northeast region received 1089.9 mm of rainfall, a 20 per cent deficit compared to the normal 1367.3 mm. Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya saw deficient rainfall during three of the four monsoon months. “This season’s rainfall in the east and northeast was the second lowest since 1901, after the record low of 1065.7 mm observed in 2013,” Mohapatra noted during an online briefing.
He further pointed out that rainfall in the region has shown a declining trend since 2020, with studies confirming a significant reduction over the past two decades.
On the other hand, northwest India experienced an exceptional season, logging 747.9 mm of rainfall, which is 27.3 per cent above normal (587.6 mm). This marked the highest rainfall in the region since 2001 and the sixth-highest since 1901. All districts in the northwest recorded above-normal precipitation in June, August, and September.
Central India also benefitted, recording 1125.3 mm of rainfall, which is 15.1 per cent above the average of 978 mm. Similarly, the southern peninsula received 9.9 per cent more rainfall than the normal of 716.2 mm.
Looking ahead, the IMD forecast suggests that most parts of India are likely to receive above-normal rainfall during October to December, with the exception of some areas in the northwest.
- With inputs from agencies
