First significant rain in the hills on 16Apr2021 after Oct 2020 and a lightning strike.

 The entire Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya (with the exception of north Sikkim perhaps) has been virtually bone dry since the SW monsoons withdrew from our region in Oct 2020 and it was welcome when we had rains yesterday. The thundershowers showers started in the afternoon at various places but by late evening it was over the entire region and continued well into the night with high winds, thunder and lightning. IR cloud imagery of the day is shown:

Rainfall data of the region (in mm) for yesterday is given below:
Gangtok 88, Pakyong 58, Cooch Behar 29.7, Kalimpong 25, Darjeeling 17.2, Siliguri 10.4 Mangan 8.4.
A lightning strike took place at Hanuman Mandir, Delo in Kalimpong

Widespread hail was also observed through out the region and it made parts of Gangtok look like Norway during Christmas time. (MG Marg Gangtok is seen below)

Praful Rao
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya

Cyclonic circulation dumps rain and ice over many parts of SHWB and Sikkim

The precipitation is welcome and comes after an almost bone-dry period from Oct 2013 till now. In Kalimpong we are facing severe water shortage and also the numerous horticultural establishments in Kalimpong, not to mention the tea gardens of Darjeeling were also parched after a rainless winter season

Rainfall on 20Mar2014
Kalimpong : 22mm (4.30 to 5.30pm)
Darjeeling : 9mm


Praful Rao
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling