Bathinda: Despite forecasts of below-normal to normal rainfall over the Northwest, including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, all three states recorded excess precipitation in January.Punjab recorded 69% excess rainfall in January, receiving 34.3 mm against a normal of 20.3 mm. Haryana recorded 35% excess rainfall with 19.6 mm against a normal of 14.5 mm, while Himachal Pradesh received 90.2 mm — 6% above normal — against an average of 85.3 mm, till the morning of Jan 31.
Punjab’s excess rainfall was attributed to two western disturbances active from Jan 21 to 24 and Jan 26 to 28. Dense fog was observed across Punjab and Haryana from January 10 to 18.The India Meteorological Department has issued a forecast of below-normal rain (78% of long period average) in Feb over Northwest India, consisting of seven meteorological subdivisions, including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh (78% of LPA). Monthly rainfall over the country as a whole during Feb is most likely to be below normal (81% of LPA).Monthly minimum temperatures in Feb are likely to remain above normal across most parts of the country, while maximum temperatures are also expected to be above normal during the month. Below-normal cold wave days are likely over several parts of the Northwest.Earlier, on Jan 1, the IMD had forecast normal monthly rainfall (78%–122% of the long period average) over North India, including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, for Jan. However, rainfall over Northwest India during the winter season (Jan to March) was predicted to be below normal, at less than 86% of the LPA.MSID:: 127820831 413 |
