Southwest monsoon withdraws from Himachal Pradesh

The southwest monsoon today withdrew from the hill state of Himachal Pradesh with 15 per cent deficit rainfall, the local MeT officials said.
The southwest monsoon withdrew from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and some parts of Haryana and west Rajasthan, they said.
The state received an average 719.9 mm rainfall against normal rainfall of 843.5 mm from June 1 to September 30, 2017 which is 15 per cent less, Director Meteorological Office Manmohan Singh said.
Barring tribal Lahaul and Spiti with lowest rainfall recorded 138.4 mm, which was 70 per cent less than normal, whileChamba, Kinnaurand Solandistricts received 696.7mm, 180.4 mm and 839.6 mm rainfall which was 50 per cent, 32 per cent and 16 per cent less, the remaining eight districts had normal rainfall.

The districts which received normal rainfall included, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Una, Sirmour and Shimla.
Last year, the southwest monsoon had withdrawn from Himachal Pradesh on October 5 and cumulative rainfall was 623.9 mm, which was 26 per cent less than the normal rainfall, he said.

During this season, all the months had below normal rainfall over the state, except on June which recorded above normal rainfall.
Monthly rainfall was 124.3 mm (25 per cent excess) in June, 216.7 mm (minus 30 per cent) in July, 273.3 mm(minus 6 per cent) in August and 105.7 mm (minus 26 per cent) in September.

Dharamshala recorded 2781.0 mm rainfall followed by Shimla city which recorded 1052.9 mm, during the monsoon season.
During thepast 14 years since 2004, the state has received significantly less rainfall in nine years and the deficit varied from 26 per cent in 2016, 34 per cent in 2007 and 2009 and 46 per cent in 2004, Singh said.
With the withdrawal of monsoon and dry weather conditions, the day temperatures rose marginally and Una recorded a high of 35.0 degrees while minimum temperatures dropped to 7.8 degrees and 8.6 degrees at Keylong and Kalpa in the tribal areas.