Heavy To Very Heavy Rainfall Likely Over Uttarakhand
The state of Uttarakhand has received heavy rainfall at many places in the last two days. Both Garhwal and Kumaon hills were lashed with intense rainfall. Even the foothills like Pantnagar, Rudrapur, Kashipur, and the state capital Dehradun witnessed heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. Weather conditions may temporarily improve today but are likely to clamp down again for the rest of the week.
Under ‘break-monsoon’ conditions, the seasonal trough is running close to the foothills and resulting in unrelenting weather conditions. Also, a western disturbance as an upper-air system is passing across the mountains. Under the combined influence, the mountains in general, and the state of Uttarakhand in particular, are being pounded repeatedly with inclement weather conditions. Looking ahead, heavy to very heavy rains with damaging potential are likely during this week.
The weather activity may be on the milder side today, but it is going to be a deceptive trick. Weather conditions are expected to turn inclement, and the sky is likely to open up yet again. The state has already been stressed with marginal weather conditions and witnessed terrible devastation at Dharali and Harsil. Another round of heavy rains will hamper the rehabilitation process and may pose a fresh challenge of adverse weather conditions. The rains on 13th and 14th August, more so on the latter day, may carry ravaging potential and therefore need to be tackled judiciously.
Weather activity in the hills, as such, carries the limitation of unpredictability. Precise and location-specific forecasts continue to remain a challenge. Difficult terrain worsens the adversity of weather conditions. With persistent and prolonged bad weather, the slopes of the mountains have gone soft. Any further increase in the load will raise the chance of massive landslides and mudslides. Rains in the catchment areas may be heavier, and so the water bodies will keep responding longer than normal, increasing the degree of difficulty. The state of preparedness needs to be assessed afresh to meet any eventuality on account of deteriorating weather conditions during the week ahead. Exercise utmost caution and stay safe.
