RANCHI: Close on the heels of a deep depression last week that caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in many parts of the state, another cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal is going to keep the monsoon active over Jharkhand this week as well.
The cyclonic circulation that originated over northwest and west-central Bay of Bengal lay centered over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha on Monday, extending 1.5km to 5.8km above mean sea level with a southward tilt causing light to moderate rainfall in the state. Acting director, IMD Ranchi, Abhishek Anand, said the southern Jharkhand districts received moderate to heavy rainfall under the influence of the cyclonic circulation.
“Arki block in Khunti district received 67mm rainfall during the past 24 hours. Over the next three-four days, the entire state is likely to receive light to moderate rainfall,” he said.
The withdrawal of monsoon is delayed this year. Normally, the monsoon starts withdrawing by September 15 but this year, the weatherman expects the withdrawal to begin by first week of October. Because of the monsoon remaining active, entire Jharkhand is going to experience intermitting rainfall till the second fortnight of October.
As on Monday, the monsoon trough passed through Daltonganj to the region of cyclonic circulation in north Odisha.
During the monsoon season, that is from June 1 to present date (September 20), Jharkhand has received 937.8mm rainfall as against the seasonal normal of 986.2mm indicating a deficit of 5%. Anand said since the monsoon is still active over the state and a system of cyclonic circulation is also there, the shortfall in seasonal rainfall is likely to be mitigated. “We can expect light to moderate rainfall all over the state during the next three-four days which will considerably compensate for the shortfall,” he said.
