September opened on a wet note in the state capital, with rain bringing the city’s monsoon deficit down to zero even as several areas faced waterlogging on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rainfall across Uttar Pradesh for the next five days, with very heavy rain possible at isolated places in East UP during the next 24 hours.
The Lucknow Amausi observatory recorded 9 mm rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on Tuesday. However, heavy rain in Hazratganj and Trans Gomti, along with waterlogging in parts of Gomti Nagar, Kamta, Faizabad Road and the Ambedkar Park area, suggested these pockets received considerably more rain than the airport area.
Lucknow received 16.7 mm rainfall in the 24 hours till 8:30 am on Tuesday. Since June 1, the city has recorded 523.9 mm against the long-period average of 525.5 mm, bringing its seasonal rain deficit to zero.
The forecast for Lucknow is an overcast sky with a few spells of rain and thundershowers. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to remain around 30 and 25 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, the city recorded 30.7 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius respectively.
Widespread rain across UP
{{/usCountry}}Widespread rain across UP
{{/usCountry}}Several districts received heavy rain in the last 24 hours. Kunda in Pratapgarh recorded 147 mm, Robertsganj in Sonbhadra 140 mm, Ankinghat in Kanpur City 129.6 mm, Badusa in Banda 110.8 mm, Azamgarh 101.8 mm, Ghazipur 95 mm, Karwi in Chitrakoot 92 mm, Rae Bareli 88.4 mm and Nawabganj in Bareilly 86.7 mm.
Overall, UP received 19.1 mm rainfall till 8:30 am, with East UP recording 29.1 mm and West UP 4.7 mm. Kanpur City received 61.1 mm, Sonbhadra 60.4 mm, Ghazipur 59.5 mm, Banda 57.6 mm, Chitrakoot 54.3 mm, Kannauj 53.4 mm and Azamgarh 50.5 mm.
“Due to a surge in monsoon activity, Uttar Pradesh’s seasonal rainfall has improved, with the state’s overall rain deficit falling into the normal category. The state’s rain deficit plummeted to 5% on Tuesday,” said Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow.
The state has received 571.6 mm rainfall against the long-period average of 600.2 mm, a 5% deficit since June 1. East UP has recorded a 10% deficit, while West UP has received 3% excess rainfall.
UP received 291.3 mm rainfall in August, 24% above the long-term average of 235.5 mm. Prayagraj and Banda recorded their highest-ever August rainfall since 1901.
As of September 1, 26 districts had deficient or large deficient rainfall, 35 had normal rain and 14 recorded excess or large excess rainfall.
Orange alert for nine districts
The IMD issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli and Kanpur City and adjoining areas till Wednesday morning.
It also warned of possible flash floods in parts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Jaunpur, Bhadohi, Chitrakoot and Kaushambi.