LUCKNOW: Even as the rain deficit in the city has been recorded at 17% below normal due to deficient rainfall for the past three weeks, the Met department on Wednesday said the dry spell may end by this weekend as conditions are getting favourable for widespread rainfall across the state.
“As the monsoon trough line has shifted over north UP, we expect rainfall in most parts of the state on Saturday and Sunday. Some areas may get rain on Friday as well. The city is also expected to receive light to moderate rain during this period,” state Met director JP Gupta said.
In Lucknow, Wednesday was hot and sultry as it has been for the last three weeks. The maximum temperature was 37.5 degrees Celsius, 3.6 units above normal, and the minimum temperature was 28.2 degrees Celsius, 2.2 notches above normal. Relative humidity was also high (between 54%-85%). The city had received good rainfall in the first half of June. As a result, from June 1 to June 18, total rainfall was 269% above normal. However, limited rain thereafter led to a drastic drop in the score. By July 7, the rain deficit increased to 22% below normal and stood at 17% below normal as on Wednesday.
Monsoon arrived in UP on June 13, five days ahead of the schedule, but to insufficient rain thereafter. Rainfall in 55 districts in the state has been below normal since June 1. Experts said the Bay of Bengal stream moved rapidly this year due to the cyclonic storm in the first week of June. However, the advancement of Arabian Sea stream was slow in the absence of favourable conditions. After initial showers, monsoon remained subdued in many parts of the country.
