tnnLucknow: Defying forecast of below-normal rainfall due to El Nino effect this year in the rainy season this year, Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, received the highest rainfall in 18 years in the four prime monsoon months from June to Sept.According the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the overall per district average rainfall in UP was 8% above normal from June 1 till Sept 30. The average per district rain in this period in UP was 802.9mm against the normal of 746.2mm. This was the highest per district average rainfall in UP after 2008 when the score was 12% above normal.Similarly, the state capital recorded 849.3 mm rainfall against the normal of 683.2 mm, which was 24% above normal, highest after 2008 when the rain score was 52% above normal.The monsoon arrived about two weeks late in UP and Lucknow this year. As a result, rainfall in June was low. The currents remained weak in July and caused 43.7mm per district average rainfall, a marginal improvement in comparison to June.However, the currents became active in Aug, resulting in 291.3mm average rainfall. The momentum continued in Sept with 250.2mm rainfall. The surplus rainfall in the later two months were enough to offset the deficit due to scanty rains in the first two months, said Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow.Nine districts recorded excess rainfall of more than 60% — Banda, Chitrakoot, Kannauj, Kanpur city, Etah, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Meerut and Sambhal. Another 17 districts, including Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Bareilly, recorded 20% to 59% excess rainfall.Rainfall was normal in 29 districts, including Ayodhya, Barabanki, Basti, Sitapur, Rae Bareli and Unnao.Sixteen districts recorded a deficit of 20% to 59%, while Deoria, Kushinagar, Ghaziabad and Shamli recorded deficits of 60% to 99%.The above-normal rainfall in UP stood in contrast to the national picture, which as per IMD, was fourth-lowest monsoon rainfall since 2001.
