We had deficient rainfall again for most towns with the notable exception of Mangan in N Sikkim.
Kalimpong was the most deficient receiving only 35% of its monthly rainfall. Interestingly, much of Kalimpong district is bang opposite SOUTH SIKKIM district and is separated only by the Teesta river. South Sikkim is the drought prone district of Sikkim ( -21% deficiency) as such rainfall deficiency in Kalimpong may be expected.
A number of low pressure areas formed in the Bay of Bengal during Sep2022 and that could be the reason for less rain in our region (the moisture bearing winds are drawn away from the sub - Himalayas when a circulation forms in the Bay).
Update from 'The Weather Channel' on 11Oct2022
Meanwhile,
the southwest monsoon continues to withdraw from the northwestern parts
of the country. Normally, its exit from the northeastern region begins
around October 10; but judging from the rate of withdrawal thus far, it
may get slightly delayed this year.
As for the seasonal precipitation, the northeastern region collectively recorded below-average rainfall during the four monsoon months from June to September. The combined monsoon rain figure for East and Northeast India stands at 1124.8 mm — 18% below their long-period monsoon average of 1367.3 mm.
Within the Northeast, the Assam-Meghalaya subdivision recorded 1600.7 mm rain (9% deficit), the N.M.M.T. states registered 943.2 mm precipitation (28% deficit), Arunachal Pradesh received 1430.3 mm (15% deficit), while Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim enjoyed precisely ‘normal’ seasonal rains at 1887.1 mm.
Praful Rao
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling Sikkim Himalaya
