NAGPUR: Though normal, the rainfall that Vidarbha has received till date is about 14% deficit. However, according to met officials, the region still has time to improve upon the situation as “good rainfall” is expected in September.
Talking to TOI, deputy director general of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Nagpur, RM Sahu informed that the region received around 679 millimeters (mm) of rainfall between June to September 1 against the normal of 693mm for the period. “Despite being deficit, rains in Vidarbha are still under normal category,” he said.
Four districts in the region have been most deficit – Amravati (28%), Gadchiroli (25%), Gondia (24%) and Buldhana (20%). “Nagpur is 4% deficit till now,” said Sahu.
Yavatmal has been the wettest followed by Washim. “Every year, the districts receiving excess, normal or deficit rains are different. Although Gondia and few other districts received good quantity of rainfall, they are under the deficit category because their mean normal is on the higher side,” added Sahu.
TOI had earlier reported about the long-range forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) which had predicted excess rainfall in many parts of Central India, including parts of Vidarbha.
Confirming that the deficit has been more than what was predicted, met officials attributed multiple reasons for it. “The monsoon had a lingering journey over Central India, one of the reasons for which was less depressions developing in the Bay of Bengal which affected the rainfall in Vidarbha. Also, the typhoons formed in the Indian Pacific ocean boost rainfall in Central India. However this time, the negative phase of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) caused less rainfall here,” added officials.
There is still hope as met officials are expecting the loss to be recovered this month. “The meteorological conditions are indicating of good rainfall activity in the coming days. Vidarbha might get more rainfall, thus improving the overall situation,” said officials.
In June, IMD had predicted that the southwest monsoon rainfall over the country will be 96-104% of the Long Period Average (LPA). According to its latest report, northwest and Central India have reported maximum departure from the normal rains. “Above normal rainfall to normal rainfall is expected over many parts of Central India,” said IMD officials.
