No rain, Himachal set to record driest January in 123 years

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 25

This month is all set to go into history as one of the driest January ever in the state. As per the record of the last 123 years, this month, with a precipitation deficiency of minus 99 per cent, is the second driest January. The only instance when January had seen even lesser precipitation was way back in 1966, with a precipitation deficiency of minus 99.6 per cent.

As per the weather department, there’s not much precipitation expected in the remaining days of the months, except for some isolated snowfall in higher reaches. “There could be some isolated spells of snowfall in higher reaches, but generally the weather will remain dry across the state until the end of the month,” said Surender Paul, Director, Meteorological Centre, Shimla. “We are expecting scattered precipitation in the first 2-3 days of February. Until then, there will be no major relief from the prevailing dry spell,” the Director said.

The Director further said the Western Disturbances, somehow, are losing their intensity as they approach the region. “As a result, the region gets no precipitation. The Western Disturbances that will hit the region at month-end seems stronger. And if the conditions stay the same as we can see currently, we will have scattered snowfall and rain at the start of the next month,” he said.

Due to the long and severe dry spell, sectors like agriculture, tourism, power generation and water resources have already taken a big hit. With water levels receding fast in rivers and other water bodies, several hydel power projects are working at drastically reduced capacities. Also, the availability of water for drinking and irrigation purpose has become scarce.

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