Bathinda: The four-month-long Southwest monsoon remained subdued across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh through the first three months, with Punjab recording the highest rainfall deficit of 36%, contributing to continued hot and humid conditions.Till the morning of Aug 31, Punjab received 230.5 mm rain against the normal 362.1 mm, Haryana 283.4 mm against 349.9 mm, and Himachal Pradesh 557.1 mm against 613.8 mm, recording deficits of 36%, 19% and 9%, respectively. Up to 19% deficient or excess rainfall is considered normal.In Aug, Punjab recorded 39% deficient rain, receiving 88.7 mm rain from Aug 1 to the morning of Aug 31 against the normal of 146.2 mm. During this period, Haryana recorded 7% deficient rain as the state received 135.4 mm rain against the normal of 146.1 mm, while Himachal recorded 16% deficient rain as it received 215.6 mm rain against the normal of 256.8 mm.As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over Punjab and Haryana during Sept 3-5 and in Himachal Pradesh from Aug 31-Sept 4.Meanwhile, the country recorded 13.8% deficient rainfall in the first three months of the Southwest Monsoon, receiving 603.7 mm against the normal 700.7 mm. Northwest India recorded an 11% deficit, with 254.4 mm rain against the normal 287.8 mm. The country had recorded 35% deficient rain in June, while rainfall was normal in July.The India Meteorological Department had forecast below-normal rainfall, at less than 94% of the Long Period Average (LPA), for the second half of the monsoon.
