Overall rain deficit stays at one per cent

The continuing lean patch in Orissa and interior peninsula has brought central India back under a ‘token' rain deficit of one per cent.

The overall deficit for the country as a whole too has been maintained at one per cent over the past week or so.

RAINS FOR WEST

On Tuesday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the land-based monsoon trough would remain near to its normal position over the next two or three days.

The US National Centres for Environmental Prediction saw the possibility of rain flare-ups over west-central India as also east-central India during the week starting Tuesday.

Widespread rains have been forecast along the west coast as well during this period.

Meanwhile, the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning have witnessed widespread rainfall over Uttarakhand, Konkan, Goa, coastal Karnataka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

WEATHER WARNING

It was fairly widespread over the eastern parts with Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, the Northeastern States and Rayalaseema, along with Kerala in the southwest, accounting for the most.

The rains were scattered over Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, east Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and isolated over Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, west Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

A weather warning issued by the IMD and valid for the next two days said that isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would batter Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

MORE FOR WEST

On Wednesday, it would be isolated heavy over Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Meanwhile, east Rajasthan and west Madhya Pradesh are expected to witness escalated rainfall activity from Wednesday, the IMD said. This is more or less is in agreement with the US agency's forecast.

A short-term outlook until Friday spoke about the possibility of fairly widespread rain or thundershowers over central and east India, the Northeastern States, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and along the west coast.

A longer term outlook valid until Sunday said that fairly widespread rain or thundershowers would occur over many parts of the country outside west Rajasthan and south interior peninsular India where it may be isolated