In the last week of August, cumulatively below normal rainfall activity is likely to occur over the State of Jharkhand. However, the rainfall deficit recorded at 34 per cent on August 16 has improved to 28 per cent on August 23.

According to the MET Centre Ranchi, light to moderate rain or thundershower with isolated heavy rainfall is likely to occur at most places on August 24, at many places on August 25 and at few places till August 29 over Jharkhand.

“Because of the ongoing rain bearing system, in the coming week, monsoon is expected to be normal for at least two to three days and fairly wide spread to wide spread rainfall activity is expected. After that scattered rainfall will occur for the next two days. Cumulatively below normal rainfall activity is likely to occur over Jharkhand in the coming week,” said Senior Scientist, MET Observatory Centre Ranchi- Dr. RS Sharma.

As per the Meteorological Centre Ranchi, from August 16 to August 23 isolated places of Northern and Southern parts of Jharkhand received heavy to very heavy rainfall bringing the rainfall deficit to -28 percent in the State.

“Last week monsoon was quite active across the entire State with heavy to very heavy rainfall reported at most places. The rainfall deficit which was recorded at -34 percent on August 16 has improved to -28 percent on August 23,” Sharma further added.

During this week, the actual rainfall over Jharkhand was recorded at 84.5 mm against the weekly normal rainfall of 68.7 mm.

For Jharkhand cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 23 was 541.6 mm against the ideal amount which should have been 754.3 mm causing a deficit of 28 percent over the entire State.

Out of 24 districts in Jharkhand, seven have received normal rainfall, 16 have received below normal rainfall where as one district-Godda has received scanty rainfall with -62 per cent deficit.