Monsoon expected to revive in north India from today, says IMD

KEY STORY

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the monsoon may revive in north India from August 19. The weather agency further said that scattered to fairly widespread rainfall activity is likely over parts of Uttar Pradesh as well as Uttarakhand from August 19-21.

• Other north Indian states, which have been witnessing an almost two-week break from monsoon include Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and west UP. According to the latest update of the IMD, these states may witness increased rainfall activity from August 20-21.

• Bihar may experience ‘widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls’ from August 20-22. The IMD further said that states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha will continue to witness light rainfall spell. A similar rainfall activity may also continue in some northeastern states as well as  sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim till August 19.

  “Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls are very likely over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal on August 18 and 19; over Madhya Pradesh from August 18 to 20; and over Telangana and Chhattisgarh on August 18,” the IMD said.

  Orange alert for Delhi

  Meanwhile, earlier during the day, the Met Department issued an orange alert for Delhi on Friday. The capital has been witnessing a declined rainfall deficity this month and a mere 63.2 mm rainfall has been recorded in Delhi against the normal of 157.1 mm so far this month. Experts cited that ‘good rainfall’ could be experienced in the national capital for the last 10 days of August.

  In July, 507.1 mm rainfall was recorded in Delhi which was nearly 141 per cent above normal. This is also the highest rainfall in the month since 2003.