Record Rainfall in Guwahati: Weather Experts Weigh In
Guwahati Experiences Unprecedented Rainfall
Guwahati, June 1: On May 31, Guwahati recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall to date, but meteorologists assert that this event was not unusual.
The official weather station at Guwahati Airport reported a rainfall total of 111 mm within a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 AM on Saturday. This marks the highest rainfall recorded for May in the city, surpassing the previous record of 99.6 mm set on May 20 of this year, which itself had broken a long-standing record of 96.8 mm from 1958.
Despite this recent record, Guwahati has experienced even heavier rainfall in the past.
The all-time record for 24-hour rainfall in the city stands at 194.3 mm, which occurred on June 5, 1956. Other significant rainfall events include 179.6 mm in 1985, 173.7 mm in 1953, 169.4 mm in 2011, and 162 mm in 1956.
In the last 24 hours, regions such as Sohra and Mawsynrum received over 470 mm of rain, while areas in Assam like Chauldhowaghat, Tezpur, and North Lakhimpur experienced heavy rainfall exceeding 150 mm.
According to an official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), "The rains on May 30 were not abnormal. They were caused by a depression that has since weakened into a low-pressure area in northeast Assam and its surroundings, leading to a gradual decrease in rainfall intensity."
A satellite analysis conducted by the North Eastern Space Application Centre revealed that after the 99.6 mm rainfall on May 20, 22.18 hectares in the Dispur area and 33.69 hectares in Guwahati were submerged. In Azara, 22.49 hectares were also affected.
"This flooding highlights the increasing issue of urban flooding in Guwahati. Factors such as rapid urban development, inadequate drainage systems, and encroachments on natural water bodies have heightened the city's susceptibility to waterlogging and flash floods during heavy rain," the report from the Umiam-based centre noted.
Conversely, areas like Sipajhar and Sonapur circles experienced minimal flooding, with less than 0.1 hectares affected. This data is vital for formulating effective flood management strategies, especially in light of the growing frequency of urban floods in the Guwahati Metropolitan area," the report concluded.