Rains reign in May as Delhi soaks up 95% excess showers

NEW DELHI: Delhi has made up for its rainfall deficit from March and April with frequent and intense showers in May. As of May 27, the city received 100.1 mm of rain — nearly double the normal 51.3 mm — placing it in the ‘large excess' category for the pre-monsoon period.Overall, the city received 95% excess rainfall in the pre-monsoon period, i.e., from March 1 to May 31. India Meteorological Department categorised seven districts in the ‘large excess' band, two districts in ‘normal' and one in ‘excess'. However, no district in the city was in the ‘deficit' rainfall category. Among the city's districts, north-west Delhi received the most pre-monsoon showers. It logged 119.5 mm of rainfall as opposed to the normal 37.3 mm, with 220% excess rainfall so far. It was followed by south-east Delhi, which reported 195% excess rainfall, logging 181.4 mm compared to the normal 61.5 mm. Other districts that recorded ‘large excess' rainfall were central Delhi, east Delhi, New Delhi, south-west and west Delhi. Compared to other districts, however, south Delhi witnessed the least rainfall. It logged 57.9 mm of rainfall against the normal 61.5 mm and was placed in the ‘normal' category. Apart from south Delhi, north Delhi occupied a place in the ‘normal' category, with the district receiving 45 mm of rainfall against the normal 49.4 mm. In contrast, the city hardly saw any rain activity in March and April. "Due to a lack of western disturbances, Delhi recorded deficit rainfall in those two months. When a western disturbance impacts a region, it causes cloudiness and rain, and also leads to a dip in temperatures," said a Met official. Explaining the reason behind intense rain and thunderstorms in May, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of meteorology, IMD, had earlier said, "The frequency of western disturbances has been quite high in the month of May this year, and as it passes northwest India, it influences a large part of the northern and eastern states. Now, during the summer, thunderstorms are prevalent; there's nothing new in it as they occur every year in the summer season, but the frequency of thunder activity is more this season."He added that when there is an increase in temperature, due to higher warming, temperatures tend to rise, and so does the humidity in the atmosphere.IMD classifies rainfall as ‘deficit' when it is more than -19%. If the rainfall is between -19% and 19%, it is classified as ‘normal', while between 20% and 59%, it is considered ‘excess'. ‘Large excess' is categorised when rainfall is 60% more than normal.