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NEW DELHI: India experienced its wettest August in 32 years, 27% more than normal rain across the country, and up to 61% above normal rainfall in central India.
The month ended with 327 mm of average precipitation in the country, 26.7% above the normal for the month (258 mm), boosting the general monsoon Rainfall in the season so far is approaching the “excess” category at 9.8% above the long-term average (LPA). The monsoon is said to be excessive if the precipitation from June to September is more than 10% higher than the LPA.
The month had the largest excess rainfall (higher than normal percentage) for August in 44 years and the fourth highest in Department of Meteorology of India records dating back to 1901. A larger monsoon surplus in August was last recorded in 1976, at 28.4%.
In IMD records dating back 120 years, only in the previous five years did August rains top this year’s record: 1988, 1963, 1958, 1933 and 1926.
What led to the exceptionally high rains, particularly in central India, was a series of low-pressure systems that came inland from the bay of bengal. Up to five low-pressure circulations formed during the month, as opposed to the normal three to four.
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