Uttarakhand receives weak pre-monsoon showers, registers 35% rain deficiency

Dehradun: Uttarakhand has received weak pre-monsoon showers with the three-month-long season, from March 1 to May 31, ending with a rainfall deficiency of 35%. According to the regional meteorological centre, Uttarakhand received 101.2 mm rainfall against the normal 155.9 mm rain during the pre-monsoon season with all 13 districts of the Himalayan state recording less than normal showers this year.
Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat remained the driest districts in the state with each registering 69% rain deficit, followed by Pauri Garhwal (63%), Haridwar (61%), Uttarkashi (45%), Almora (42%) and Tehri Garhwal (40%).
Pithoragarh district, which recorded 8% rain deficit, received maximum pre-monsoon showers this season. Dehradun, too, recorded scanty rainfall with 24% less than normal showers.
Giving details, Bikram Singh, director of regional meteorological centre, told TOI, “The state witnessed normal showers in the months of March and April. However, the weather largely remained dry in the month of May, especially the second fortnight.”
Singh added that the prolonged dry spell in May has also caused rise in maximum temperature across Uttarakhand. “The dry spell is even continuing in the month of June resulting in high maximum temperatures. However, as per long term forecast, good rains are expected in July and August in Uttarakhand,” Singh added.
Incidentally, maximum temperatures crossed 40 degrees Celsius mark in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar districts this summers, while the hills are also reeling under heat conditions. On Monday, mercury crossed 30 degrees Celsius in Mussoorie, first time in last 10 years.