Rain deficiency reaches 98 pc, dry spell likely to continue

From October 1 onwards, the state has seen little rainfall. The rain deficiency has increased to 98 per cent in the post-monsoon period. While the state received 97 per cent deficient rainfall in the month of October, the deficiency this month till today is 100 per cent. Worse, the prolonged dry spell is unlikely to end anytime soon.

As per the weather department, rain is unlikely for another seven to 10 days in the mid and lower hills. The higher reaches of a few districts, though, can get “very light” rain or snow on November 15-16.

According to weather officials, October saw highly deficient rainfall this time because of the back-to-back formation of low pressure areas and depression in the Bay of Bengal. “When such conditions develop, rains remain confined to eastern and central India. Himachal and its adjoining areas did not get any favourable winds or moisture due to it, and went almost dry,” said an official from Meteorological Centre, Shimla.

As for dry conditions in November, the official said the state gets rain in this month due to the activity of the Western Disturbances. “A few Western Disturbances that hit the region were quite feeble. Besides, these were too much towards the North, limiting the rain to around Ladakh. So, Himachal and adjoining states haven’t received rain until now this month,” he said.

Incidentally, the months of October and November have seen much less than normal rainfall quite a few times over the last six-seven years. The average rainfall for the state for the months of October and November is 25.1mm and 19.7 mm, respectively. According to the department’s data, several places, including Shimla and Dharamsala, have received less than 2mm rain three to four times in the last seven-eight years. Similarly, the situation isn’t too different for the month of November.