Himachal Pradesh, marking the commencement of the post-monsoon season on Wednesday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Shimla, there was an 18 per cent deficit in rainfall over the state.
The actual rainfall from June to September was 600.9 mm, compared to the normal 734.4 mm.
This year, Himachal Pradesh recorded the 97th highest rainfall of 600.9 mm in the monsoon season in the last 124 years. The highest rainfall from 1901 to 2024 was recorded in 1922 (1,314.6 mm).
IMD (Shimla) director Kuldeep Srivastava said, “Indeed, there is 18 per cent less monsoon than normal expected, but we consider up to an 18 per cent overall deficit in the category of normal rainfall.
The monsoon was normal as it was expected before its arrival. Last year, the southwest monsoon was withdrawn from the state on October 6.
This time, it was withdrawn five days before the last year of withdrawal.”
Meanwhile, a source said, “Although the exact number of cloudbursts is still being determined, over two dozen cloudbursts, including five particularly devastating ones, were reported in Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon season.
Districts such as Kullu, Siramur, Shimla, and Chamba were identified as vulnerable to cloudbursts. This year, over 340 people lost their lives during the monsoon, with around 150 fatalities resulting from various road accidents.”
The monsoon entered the state on June 27 and covered it entirely by June 29, slightly delayed compared to the normal onset date of June 25. In the last 124 years, the earliest onset of southwest monsoon was on June 9, 2000 and most delayed onset was on July 5, 2010.
During the monsoon season, the extremely heavy rainfall was reported over Dharamshala and Palampur on July 6; over Palampur on August 1 and over Dhaulakuan on September 26.
The IMD Shimla reported that in June, Himachal Pradesh received 46.2 mm of rainfall, 54 per cent lower than the normal value of 101.1 mm. Districts such as Una, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, Mandi, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, and Bilaspur received deficient rainfall, while the remaining districts received extremely deficient rainfall.
In July, Himachal Pradesh received 180.5 mm of rainfall, which was 29 per cent lower than its normal value of 255.9 mm.
The district of Kangra received the highest amount of rainfall at 581.5 mm. Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla received normal rainfall, while Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una received deficient rainfall.
Additionally, Lahaul-Spiti district experienced a large deficient rainfall.
In August, Himachal Pradesh received 243.6 mm against its normal value of 256.8 mm, which was 5 per cent lower than its long0-period average. Shimla, Sirmaur, and Bilaspur districts received excess rainfall, whereas Mandi, Kangra, Solan, Chamba, and Una received normal rainfall; Hamirpur, Kullu, and Kinnaur received deficient rainfall, and Lahaul-Spiti received largely deficient rainfall.
In September, Himachal Pradesh received 125.3 mm against its normal value of 120.6 mm, which was 4 per cent higher than its long-period average. Sirmaur received large excess rainfall; Shimla, Mandi, Kinnaur, Kangra, and Bilaspur received excess rainfall; Lahaul-Spiti received large deficient rainfall, and the rest of the districts received normal to near normal rainfall.
Only one day in June reported very heavy rainfall. In July, there were six days with very heavy rainfall, while in August, there were seven such days. In September, three days reported very heavy rainfall.
Southwest monsoon (June-September 2024)
Total rainfall received – 600.9 mm
Total rainfall expected – 734.4 mm
June
Total rainfall received – 46.2 mm
Total rainfall expected- 101.1 mm
July
Total rainfall received – 80.5 mm
Total rainfall expected -255.9 mm
August
Total rainfall received – 243.6 mm
Total rainfall expected -256.8 mm
September
Total rainfall received -125.3 mm
Total rainfall expected -120.6 mm
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