Showers over 3 days reduce rain deficit to 1% in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: A recent bout of heavy rainfall, caused by a depression over Gangetic West Bengal, has significantly reduced Jharkhand’s rainfall deficit to just 1%. As of September 17, the state recorded 922 mm of rainfall against the normal of 935 mm for this period, resulting in a minor shortfall.

According to meteorological data, the rains have helped 12 districts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, achieve surplus rainfall. However, districts like Chatra, Deoghar, East Singhbhum, Godda, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamtara, Khunti, Lohardaga, Pakur, Sahebganj, and West Singhbhum remain in the deficit category.

Weather officials predict that fair conditions are likely to prevail from today, as the deep depression that led to the intense showers over the past few days is gradually weakening. Satellite images indicate that the depression is expected to continue its west-northwestward movement over the next 24 hours.

The monsoon trough at mean sea level today passed through key regions, including Amritsar, Rohtak, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Daltonganj, and the center of the depression over Gangetic West Bengal, stretching southeastward to the northeast Bay of Bengal.

In the coming days, Jharkhand may experience a slight rise in temperatures. Weather experts forecast a three to four-degree Celsius increase in maximum temperatures over the next 72 hours as the depression weakens and the weather stabilizes.

The good spell of rain has offered much-needed relief to farmers and water reservoirs, balancing the state’s seasonal water requirements just before the monsoon begins to recede.

“The rains have been a boon, especially for regions that were facing a deficit. We’ve now seen 12 districts, including Ranchi, move into surplus territory,” said a senior official from the Jharkhand Meteorological Department. However, districts like Chatra, Deoghar, East Singhbhum, and West Singhbhum remain in deficit.

Fair weather is expected to return as the deep depression responsible for the downpour weakens. “The depression that caused heavy rainfall over the past three to four days is gradually losing its strength. We anticipate clearer skies in the coming days,” the official added.

Satellite data suggests that the depression will continue to move west-northwestward over the next 24 hours. “The monsoon trough today runs through Amritsar, Rohtak, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Daltonganj, and the center of the depression over Gangetic West Bengal. It extends southeastward into the Bay of Bengal,” the meteorological report stated.