The 2nd week of July between 07th and 13th, figures as the rainiest week of the season, so far. Intense weather activity was confined to Central parts and South India, covering states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Over Northwest India, except Rajasthan which received moderate to heavy rains, rest of the states remained deficit. Uttar Pradesh was the most driest state during the period with shortfall of 70-90% of rainfall. Eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal also observed deficiencies topped by Bihar (97%) and the lowest by West Bengal (47%). Overall, pan-India observed a surplus of 50% and recoded 93.5mm against the normal of 62.4mm, for the week ending 13thJuly.
The 1st week of July was consumed wiping out the seasonal shortfall of 8% rainfall left behind in June. This deficiency was made up in the first 6 days of July and the season got break even point. The 2nd week was marred by drowning rains, particularly in the central parts. A surplus of 1%-2% kept on accumulating on daily basis and the monsoon season got surplus by 13%, between 01stjune to 14thJuly. Month of July, by itself is in excess of huge 42% rainfall.
Heavy rain zone is expected to shrink in the coming days. Pockets of intense weather will switch over from the central to northern and eastern parts of the country. Worst weather is already over for Telangana and the state of Maharashtra will follow shortly, in the next 48 hours. Gujarat weather conditions will also improve by 17thJuly. Focus of weather activity will later shift to Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Even plains of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan will have scattered rain and thundershower after 18thJuly. Prior to this, due to monsoon trough remaining south of its normal position, pre monsoonal type of weather with short spells of showers will occur routinely on daily basis.
