Page 35 - Rainfall

15-30% of Rabi crops damaged in Himachal Pradesh due to inadequate rains

The prolonged dry spell in Himachal Pradesh has caused severe damage to the rabi crops and the maximum loss of Rs 2,857.78 lakh has been suffered in the Hamirpur district of the hill state, officials said on Thursday. As per the report of field officers from across the state, out of 4,01,853 hectares, crops on 85,538.20 hectares of land have been damaged due to inadequate/ deficient rains. In five districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur up to 33 per cent of Rabi crops have been damaged. The total loss to the crop was estimated at Rs 9,462 lakh rupees so far in ten out of 12 districts in the state barring the tribal areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, a spokesman of the Agriculture department said. The crop damage was below 33 per in the remaining five districts, the spokesperson added. Rainfed areas have been hit the most by the weather. The crops of wheat, barley and peas have been affected due to lack of rain, he said. Areas where farmers were completely

Drought conditions ease in California after winter storms bring rains, snow

According to the latest data released by US Drought Monitor (USDM) on Thursday, moderate or severe drought still covered about 49 per cent of the Golden State

Met predicts above-normal temperature in March-May in upper half of country

Says average max temperature in Feb 2023 highest since 1901; wheat crop under stress

California hit hard by winter storm leading to heavy rainfall, snowfall

The powerful winter storm has continued to lash California, bringing heavy rainfall, snowfall and strong winds that led to road closure, flooding, power outage, among other damages

Mercury to rise 2-4 degrees over next 5-6 days; 35% rain deficit this year

Even in the October-December period, post-monsoon rainfall has been below par

Rainfall continues in Delhi; hailstorms damage crops in Rajasthan

According to a weather alert earlier, the approaching fresh cloud patches over Delhi was likely trigger a light to moderate spells of rainfall over the city

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid rains in J-K's Ramban

Amid incessant rains, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Ramban Wednesday and is heading for the highway town of Banihal. The journey from Ramban to Banihal along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country -- is the most challenging due to several problematic stretches, including Panthiyal, Mehar and Magerkote which are prone to shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the arterial road. Traffic on the highway was suspended Wednesday morning after heavy rains triggered shooting of stones at a few places in Ramban district that left a truck driver dead and two others injured. J-K Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Jahanzaib Sirwal said the yatra resumed around 9 am from Bathi after an hour-long delay due to heavy rains and was progressing smoothly on day 131, covering the old alignment road via Maitra in Ramban town. Gandhi, who started the yatra wearing his trademar

Light rain triggers by western disturbance in parts of eastern Rajasthan

Light rain triggered by a western disturbance occurred in isolated areas of eastern Rajasthan, the Met office here said on Tuesday. Vair in Bharatpur received the maximum precipitation at 21 mm during the last 24 hours. Roopwas received 17 mm rain and Gangapur and Bayana received 11 mm each. Other areas of Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur also received light rain during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am, the Met office said. Night temperatures also increased in many parts of the state. It was appreciably above normal in Jaipur division, above normal in Kota division and normal in the state's other divisions. The lowest temperature was recorded in Bikaner at 5.6 degrees Celsius. The weather remained cloudy in many areas and dense to very dense fog occurred at isolated places in the morning.

California braces for more stormy weather, rain and potential floods

California braced for more stormy weather with rain expected to sweep across the northern part the state on Saturday, raising the potential for road flooding, rising rivers and mudslides. Rain was forecast for the Bay Area Saturday with a brief dry period on Sunday and heavier storms due to arrive Monday. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for a large swath of Northern and Central California with 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain expected through Wednesday in the Sacramento-area foothills. In the Los Angeles area, light rain was forecast for the weekend with stormy conditions expected to return Monday with the potential for up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain in the foothills. The wet weather comes after days of rain in California from Pacific storms. A series of recent weather systems have knocked out power to thousands, flooded streets, battered the coastline and caused at least six deaths. The storms won't be enough to officially end California's .

Climate change adversely affected rain patterns: Union Jal Shakti Minister

Climate change has adversely affected rain patterns, leaving scanty and erratic showers that negatively impact its harvesting, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday. Speaking at the 1st All India Annual States' Ministers Conference on 'Water Vision24/7' here, Shekhawat also said rapid urbanisation, increased demand and water pollution had reduced per capita availability of water from 5000 cm to 1500 cm, which would further reduce to 1200cm by 2047. "Climate change has changed rainfall patterns with scanty and erratic showers, which has and continues to negatively impact this harvestable component. By 2047, our requirement is likely to surpass availability of water and this is the reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted this conference should be held with all states to chalk out a roadmap to ensure preparedness and contingency planning," the minister said. "India's water availability of 4,000 BCM (billion cubic meters) through rain, glaciers or

2023 will be a great year if country gets good rainfall: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said if 2023 witnesses a good monsoon, it will be a "great" year for the country as it will help the agriculture sector thrive and drive up the economy. He also noted that India can become an important country in terms of export. Pawar was talking to media persons in his hometown in Pune district on the New Year's eve. "As many as 50 to 60 per cent of the people of the country are dependent on agriculture. If we get favourable rainfall in the country, it will be a great year for all of us. The purchasing power of people will rise if agriculture flourishes. I pray that the farmers of the country would be happy in the coming year," he said. Once farmers are happy, other businesses will also witness "great" days, the former Union agriculture minister said. "On a global stage, India can become an important country in terms of exports. Therefore, there should be new reforms in industries and trade. No matter who remai

18 dead as strong winter storm brings rain, snow, cold waves across US

A frigid winter storm killed at least 18 people as it swept across the country, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses and leaving millions of people on edge about the possibility of Christmas Eve blackouts. The storm unleashed its full fury on Buffalo, New York, with hurricane-force winds causing whiteout conditions. Emergency response efforts were paralysed and the city's international airport was shut down. Across the U.S., officials have attributed deaths to exposure, car crashes, a falling tree limb and other effects of the storm. At least three people died in the Buffalo area, including two who suffered medical emergencies in their homes and couldn't be saved because emergency crews were unable to reach them amid historic blizzard conditions. Deep snow, single-digit temperatures and day-old power outages sent Buffalo residents scrambling Saturday to get out of their houses to anywhere that had heat. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the Buffalo Niaga

IMD predicts rainfall, thunderstorms in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal

Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Thiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal during next 1 to 3 hours

Unseasonal rain likely to hit parts of Gujarat due to low depression: IMD

The Met Department has forecast unseasonal rain in some parts of Gujarat on Thursday and Friday due to a low depression developed over the East Central and adjoining South East Arabian Sea

Rain likely in several districts of Madhya Pradesh during next 24 hrs: MeT

Light to moderate rainfall is expected in several districts of Madhya Pradesh in the next 24 hours till Thursday, said a senior meteorologist in Bhopal on Wednesday

Cyclonic storm 'Mandous' brings rainfall in several parts of Tamil Nadu

Several parts of Tamil Nadu witnessed light to moderate rainfall and some places heavy showers as the cyclonic storm 'Mandous' continued to move closer to the State's coastline, and it is set to cross coast near here starting midnight, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday. Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, several areas here witnessed heavy rainfall (including Nungambakkam--7 CM) and it was light to moderate in other regions. The IMD said Doppler weather radars are monitoring the cyclone which weakened into a cyclonic storm on December 9 after being a severe cyclonic storm for less than 24-hours and it now lay at about 260 km south-southeast of Chennai and 180 km east-northeast of Karaikal. Mandous, pronounced 'man-dous' is an Arabic word and it means treasure box and the name was reportedly picked by the United Arab Emirates. The cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Prad

Four-day rain forecast for Bengaluru under cyclone 'Mandous' effect

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain and cloudy weather for Bengaluru in view of the cyclone effect in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

6 NDRF teams deployed in parts of Tamil Nadu after heavy rainfall alert

In a wake of heavy rainfall on December 8, six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Tamil Nadu

IMD predicts below normal rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry till Dec 8

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a below normal rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next two weeks till December 8, officials said

Heavy rainfall likely in most parts of Karnataka till Nov 24: IMD

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall till November 24 in most parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru