Wet spell continues, likely to intensify from tomorrow

Moderate rain activity was witnessed in parts of the country today even as weathermen warned of "extremely heavy" showers in the northeastern region and "heavy" precipitation in the north tomorrow.
Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar.
The wet spell is likely to intensify tomorrow, with the MeT office predicting "extremely heavy" rains in Assam, where around 84 people have so far been killed in 29 flood-hit districts, and Meghalaya.
It said "heavy to very heavy rains" are expected over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and east Rajasthan.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the country is expected to receive normal rainfall in the second half of the monsoon season.
According to it, rainfall over the country during the remaining two months of the monsoon season (August and September) is likely to be 100 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of plus or minus 8 per cent.

Rainfall between 94-104 per cent of the LPA is considered "normal", it said.
August is expected to witness 99 per cent of the LPA, the weatherman said.
The MET, however, recorded an overall deficiency of minus 3 per cent from June 1 to August 7 following which several parts of the country are witnessing drought-like conditions, especially in the southern peninsula.

On the other hand, states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and several parts of the northeast have witnessed floods.
Rains lashed a few parts of Haryana and Punjab. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, also recorded light showers.
The Ranjit Sagar Dam area gauged 190 mm of rains, Balachaur 70 mm, Anandpur Sahib and Mukerian 50 mm each, Nawanshahr 20 mm and Ropar 30 mm.
A local MeT office report from West Bengal said southern districts of the state will continue to receive light to moderate rain till August 11. Heavy precipitation is likely from August 12.
Heavy rains lashed several places in the mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh, which has been battling with monsoon-induced landslides.

Nainadevi recorded 140 mm of rain, Bangana 104 mm, Sujanpur Tira 98 mm, Nagrotasurian 95 mm, Nadaun 85 mm, Dehragopipur 84 mm, Guler 78 mm, Mehre 74 mm, Berthin 66 mm, Una 62 mm, Kheri 57 mm, Bharari 56 mm, Bijahi and Ghumarwin 54 mm, Pandoh 51 mm and Gohar 45 mm.
Moderate rainfall activity was reported in Bihar. Patna received 5.9 mm of rain, Gaya 7.7 mm, Bhagalpur and Purnea 0.7 mm and 2.9 mm of precipitation.
Muggy weather conditions prevailed in the national capital for most part of the day though the weather turned pleasant towards the evening as light rains provided relief to Delhiites.

The city received 29.6 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am. The humidity levels oscillated between 98 and 63 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has set up an expert committee to ascertain the reason for high incidence of lightning in the state.
At least 257 people have been killed in lightning strikes in the state so far this year.