New Delhi, June 24: The progress of monsoon is still sluggish as most of the meteorological subdivisions have recorded deficient rainfall. A data by the MeT department informed that, though the official monsoon season is considered to be between June 1 and September 30, rains came in late this year with 84 percent of subdivisions of IMD recording low rainfall. The monsoon this year, has made the slowest progress in at least 12 years. So far, monsoon has just covered 10 states. The delay has pushed the country’s rainfall deficiency in the first nine days of June to 45 percent, the IMD said. India received only 17.7 mm of rainfall as against the normal precipitation of 32.4 mm, which comes to around 45 percent, the IMD added.  Monsoon Prediction: Brace For Below Normal Rains This Year, Says Skymet.

The official onset date for the arrival of monsoon in the country is June 1 and it takes more than a month-and-half to cover the entire country. Rainfall has reached several states including Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Odisha, providing a much-needed relief from the scorching summer. It must be noted that onset of monsoon over the southern state of Kerala marks the commencement of the four-month-long rainy season in the country. Pre-Monsoon Rainfall From March to May Deficit Drops to 22%: IMD 

Monsoon prediction in India (Watch Video)

In Kerala

Monsoon reached Kerala on June 8, a week after its normal onset date. Its progress was halted for more than a week due to Cyclone Vayu in the Arabian Sea, causing a delay in its advancement in several parts. Several parts of the state, parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka, parts of east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal also have been witnessing heavy rainfall since then. Monsoon Hits Kerala Coast After Week’s Delay, Says IMD

In Maharashtra

The IMD had informed that the delayed southwest monsoon was expected to arrive in Maharashtra by June 21. However, several parts of the state have received a deficit rainfall till June end this year. The much-awaited monsoon is expected to reach southern Konkan and Goa by June 21, and is likely to cover entire Maharashtra by June 24 or 25, the IMD had said. It added saying that while the monsoon is likely to cover entire Maharashtra, good rains are expected over the parched regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha, which are currently reeling under a water crisis. Monsoon 2019 Schedule: Rainfall to Hit Coastal Maharashtra on Friday, Cover Central India by June 25, Enter North in July 1st Week.

In Odisha

Monsoon finally made onset on the Odisha coast on June 21, triggering rainfall in different parts of the state. Districts like Boudh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Kandhamal could experience heavy rainfall, bringing respite from the heatwave conditions in the state. IMD's senior scientist Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the monsoon will further advance into Odisha in the next three days.

Heavy rainfall warning has been issued for districts of Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Sundargarh.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Southwest monsoon finally entered Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on June 21, bringing cheers to farmers and providing respite from the heat wave. This year, there was a delay in the monsoon of more than 10 days.  According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the overall seasonal rainfall is expected to be close to normal i.e 97 percent of LPA (755 mm for Telangana and 912 mm for AP). The IMD has forecast above normal rainfall till June 27 in Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

In Delhi

Rainfall is likely to hit the national capital in the next 4-5 days. According to IMD, there are predictions of light rains starting from June 24, which may help keep temperatures low. The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Delhi in the first week of July. On June 24, Delhi woke up to a humid morning with the minimum temperature settling at 27.4 degrees Celsius. The weatherman has forecast cloudy sky with possibility of light rain and thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds for Monday.

In Uttar Pradesh

The monsoon hit Uttar Pradesh on July 19 with scattered rains over Ghazipur, Varanasi and parts of Jhansi. Rainfall covered eastern districts bordering Bihar, including Varanasi and Gorakhpur and is expected to hit the state capital this week.

Water Levels go Down

According to the Central Water Commission data, of the 91 major reservoirs in India, nearly 80 percent have storage below normal. Of these, 11 have zero percent storage, making the water crisis acute.

Rain Deficit in India

As many states await a delayed monsoon, central India continues to run a high rain deficit of 43.5% while east and northeast reels under a deficit of 44% in the June 1-19 period. The official rainfall season starts from June 1 to September 30, but the overall monsoon deficiency until June 22 still remains around 39 percent. Of the 36 meteorological subdivisions, 25 percent have recorded “deficient” rainfall, while six subdivisions recorded precipitation classified under the “large deficient” category.

India Receives 70.9 mm Rains so far

The country is facing a deficiency of 38 percent rainfall. According to IMD data, the nation has received 70.9-millimeter rainfall so far in this monsoon season as compared to long period average of 114.2  millimeter.

Dry Spells Across India

The unusual long dry spell in several states across the nation, especially Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has also led to water scarcity. People in towns like Vizianagaram, Ongole, Giddaluru and Kadapa are getting piped drinking water once in four to five days.

With no sign of the arrival of the southwest monsoon any time soon, with maximum temperatures still hovering over 43 degrees Celsius at many places, states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pra desh have been reeling under the longest and harshest summer in recent times. In the coming date,

The situation, however, is likely to improve. The IMD on Sunday said monsoon has further advanced into east Uttar Pradesh, some parts of central Maharashtra, most parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha.

IMD Forecast For This Week

In the coming days, heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Assam and Meghalaya, Konkan and Goa and Arunachal Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat Region, West Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Several parts of the country witnessed unrelenting heat, depleting groundwater, fall in reservoir levels, crippling normal life. The delayed and sluggish monsoon in several states of India has left the fields parched and farmers worried. The private weather agency, Skymet Weather had said the pre-monsoon season this year is the second driest in 65 years, with gross rainfall deficiency recorded at 25 percent. The country witnessed 99 mm of rainfall in the three-month pre-monsoon season that ended on May 31, against the average of 131.5 mm.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2019 03:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).