Drought Threats To Indian States: The southwest monsoon has changed from “above normal” to “below normal” in just 15 days into August, following a month with an excess of rain in the majority of India. At the end of July, the southwest monsoon was reportedly 5% over the long-period average (LPA).
According to the most recent data, however, the season’s total rainfall plummeted to 5% below LPA just 15 days into August as 263 out of 717 Indian districts (or about 36%) experienced insufficient rainfall with deficits of 20% or more, according to a report by Times of India.
The monsoon has been feeble in the first half of August, with nationwide rainfall apparently maintaining 35% below LPA, following the busy phase in July, which received 13% above-average rains.
Drought Threats To Indian States: Most Affected States
The risk of drought is growing as the rain deficit persists in several eastern and southern states. Bihar, where rainfall was insufficient in 31 of the state’s 38 districts, Kerala, where all 14 districts are experiencing a deficit, Jharkhand, where 21 out of 24 districts are experiencing a deficit, and UP, where 46 out of 75 districts are experiencing a deficit, are among the worst-hit states.
However, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall is anticipated to increase starting around August 18.
“August’s second half should see more consistent rainfall. We anticipate the monsoon to return around August 18. According to senior IMD scientist D Sivananda Pai, who previously served as the department’s lead monsoon forecaster, “it may not be very strong, but areas along the west coast and peninsular India are expected to get wet weather, along with rainfall in several states in the east and northeast as well as in central India.”
IMD had earlier predicted that this year’s monsoon will be “normal,” with rainfall continuing at the “lower end of the normal range.” In August, the weather service expected the monsoon to be between 90% and 94% below average.
