imd-warns-of-heavy-rain-in-himachal-till-sept-1

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Himachal Pradesh till September 1. The department has also issued multiple orange and yellow alerts for different districts over the next three days.

 

Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, said the monsoon had remained active across Himachal in the last 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was reported from Sirmaur, Kangra, Hamirpur, and Solan.

 

"The highest rainfall was recorded in Sirmaur district, at around 140 mm, followed by heavy rain in Palampur. From the evening of August 29 till September 1, heavy rain will continue across the state, with the possibility of very heavy rain in some areas," Sharma said.

 

The IMD said an orange alert had been issued for Una, Mandi, Kangra, and Sirmaur districts on Friday. On Saturday, orange alerts are in place for Chamba, Kangra, and Kullu. For August 31, warnings have been issued for Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur.

 

Yellow alerts have been given for Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, and several other plains and mid-hill areas during this period.

 

Sharma said on September 1, heavy rainfall is likely in Una, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan, and Shimla. Weather conditions are expected to improve from September 2. “No alerts have been issued for September 3 and 4, as rainfall activity will reduce sharply,” he said.

 

The senior scientist added that the state has already received 67 per cent more rainfall than normal in August.

 

"Kullu district has seen the highest excess rainfall in August 150 per cent above normal followed by Solan at 121 per cent and Shimla at 108 per cent. All 12 districts have recorded above-normal rainfall this month," Sharma said.

 

Since the beginning of the monsoon on June 1, the state has recorded 32 per cent excess rainfall overall. Shimla is 84 per cent above normal, Kullu 78 per cent, Solan 68 per cent, and Mandi 64 per cent. Lahaul-Spiti is the only district where rainfall is close to normal.

 

Sharma also said the August rainfall was the highest in 15 years. "In 2019, August recorded 30 per cent above-normal rainfall, but this year we have already reached 67 per cent above normal, with three days still remaining in the month," he said.

 

He said the Bay of Bengal system was feeding strong monsoon currents, which would continue to bring intense rainfall till September 1.