Monsoon Expected to Arrive in Jharkhand with Heavy Rainfall Forecast
Monsoon Forecast for Jharkhand
The southwest monsoon is anticipated to reach Jharkhand between June 17 and 19, bringing the possibility of heavy rainfall across various regions of the state, as reported by a meteorological department official on Sunday.
A 'Yellow Alert' has been issued for certain areas in the southwestern and central parts of the state for Monday, indicating heavy rain, while an 'Orange Alert' has been announced for two days starting June 17, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Abhishek Anand, the deputy director of the Ranchi Meteorological Center, stated to a news agency, "Pre-monsoon activities are likely to commence in the state from Sunday. Conditions appear favorable for the arrival of the monsoon between June 17 and 19." This year, the monsoon reached Kerala on May 24, which is a week earlier than usual.
According to official data, the monsoon has typically arrived in Jharkhand between June 12 and June 25 since 2010. Anand mentioned that normal rainfall is expected during the four-month monsoon period.
He added that light to moderate rain could occur in some areas of the state on Sunday, with heavy rainfall possible in certain locations on Monday due to the influence of cyclonic circulation.
Anand further noted, "There is a likelihood of heavy rain between June 17 and 20, with some areas in southwestern and central Jharkhand experiencing very heavy rainfall."
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a 58% deficit in rainfall in Jharkhand from June 1 to June 14, with only 20.8 mm of rain recorded compared to the normal 49.1 mm.
Meteorological officials clarified that rainfall from June 1 to September 30 is classified as monsoon rainfall. Last year, Jharkhand experienced normal monsoon rainfall.
Officials also indicated that in 2023, the state government declared 158 blocks across 17 districts as drought-affected, while in 2022, 226 out of 260 blocks were declared drought-affected due to insufficient rainfall in June and July.