Seasonal Monsoon rainfall in Tripura 19% less than normal

Though Tripura along with other parts of Northeast received considerable rainfall over the past two months,  the seasonal rainfall in Tripura during the first two months of the current Monsoon season was 19% less than normal.

The Agartala station of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) through weather statistics over Tripura during July, 2023 said that rainfall during July was normal over Tripura.

IMD said that  quantitatively, the total rainfall of 285.7 mm was observed in the state during July this year, against the normal value of 338.2 mm, which has recorded a departure of  minus (-) 16%.

Station wise in Tripura, the highest rainfall was recorded at Amarpur in Gomati district at 490.9 mm and the lowest was recorded at Belonia in South Tripura district at 144.6 mm rainfall.

IMD also said that during the ongoing Monsoon season, the highest 24-hours rainfall was recorded at KVK Dhalai at 162.6 mm on July 5th last. And the state capital, Agartala received 222.4 mm of rainfall during July, 2023 with a departure of minus 37%. On average, the seasonal rainfall in Tripura during the first two months of the ongoing Monsoon season was 19 % less than normal rainfall.

In the month of July, the highest daytime temperature recorded at Agartala airport was 37.0 degrees Celsius on July 22nd last and the average mean of maximum temperature was 34.7 degrees Celsius.

The vagaries of Monsoon is nothing new in Tripura as in 2016, the Monsoon rainfall over Tripura was deficit by 22 % and in the year 2017, the state received 31 % excess rainfall and higher than normal, while , in the year 2018 recorded Monsoon rainfall was 23 % deficit. But, in 2019 the deficit has so far been quite high and worrisome at 37 %, till June 25th, 2019.

In India, the Monsoon season, the main rainy season of the country, comprises the four months, June, July, August and September. Along with other parts of the country, Tripura also received a good amount of total annual rainfall during the Monsoon season.

The MET department said that the rain and thunderstorm with lightning may occur in several areas of Tripura during the next 48 hours. Agartala on Wednesday recovered maximum temperatures 32.5 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature was recorded at 25.4 degrees Celsius. Though the humidity level was recorded at maximum 98 % at the state capital. IMD in its weather prediction for Thursday (August 10) said that generally cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rainfall will occur in different parts of Tripura and maximum and minimum temperature will be at around 32 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said that isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Northeast India, Bihar and Uttarakhand during next five days while subdued rainfall activity

In Northwest India, the weather forecast indicates the anticipation of light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall. “This pattern is expected to persist from Tuesday to Saturday. During this period, there is a high likelihood of isolated instances of heavy rainfall over the region of Uttarakhand,” said the IMD in its bulletin.

Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are also in the forecast for similar weather conditions on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Furthermore, Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand could experience isolated heavy rainfall on Tuesday, with Bihar possibly encountering extremely heavy falls on Tuesday.

The expected weather pattern in Northeast India is characterized by light to moderate, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall.

“Over the next five days, regions such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are likely to witness isolated to very heavy rainfall episodes,” the IMD said.