Chandigarh, August 30 – With a month of the monsoon season still remaining, Punjab has already received more rainfall than its long-period seasonal average, even as several districts battle widespread flooding.
From June 1 till the morning of August 30, the state recorded 443 mm of rainfall against the seasonal average of 439.8 mm, registering a 24% surplus compared to the long-period average of 357.1 mm for this time of year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have also witnessed excess rainfall — 34% and 24% above normal, respectively. Across India, monsoon rainfall is currently about 5% above average.
IMD officials attributed the spike in rainfall after August 25 to the interplay of western disturbances, cyclonic circulations and moisture-laden winds from the sea, which triggered extremely heavy spells over northwest India. The impact has been severe, with landslides and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh and flooding in Punjab, Jammu and parts of Rajasthan.
During August alone, Punjab has received 226.4 mm rainfall against a normal of 141.2 mm — a 60% surplus. Some districts have reported more than double their average rain. Gurdaspur tops the list with 182% surplus, followed by Pathankot (152%), Jalandhar (132%), Tarn Taran (118%), Barnala (106%), and Ferozepur (105%).
However, a few pockets continue to show a deficit. Bathinda’s rains are 39% below normal, while Patiala (–30%), Fatehgarh Sahib (–15%), and Kapurthala (–5%) also reported below-average rainfall.
The IMD termed Punjab’s monsoon activity in the last 24 hours as “normal”, noting light to moderate rain at several places, along with isolated spells of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning. The weather department has predicted light to moderate rainfall at many places in Punjab till September 1, followed by scattered showers through the month. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely to persist over Northwest India during the next four to five days, the IMD cautioned.
Officials said the continuing wet spell, while critical for replenishing water tables, has worsened flooding in districts such as Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur, where rivers are already in spate.
