Heavy rainfall in Mawsynram, Sohra in Meghalaya

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• Apr 6, 2022 | Pratiksha

However, extremely high rainfall is usual during this pre-monsoon time in both Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram, and there have been some remarkable

Digital Desk: Even as many parts of India are experiencing severe to extremely severe heat waves, two locations in Meghalaya have received more than 300 mm of rain in a 24-hour period for the previous 3-4 days.

However, extremely high rainfall is usual during this pre-monsoon time in both Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram, and there have been some remarkable days in the past when rainfall exceeded 400 mm in 24 hours in some situations.

According to the India Meteorology Department (IMD), Sohra, also known as Cherrapunji, had 190 mm of rain in 24 hours till 8.30 a.m. on April 1, 360 mm on April 2, only 2.6 mm on April 3, and 150 mm until 8.30 a.m. on April 4.

Similarly, a neighbouring station, Cherrapunji RKM, recorded 140 mm of rain on April 1; 370 mm on April 2; and just 4.3 mm on April 3, with data for Monday still unavailable.

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Mawsynram recorded 330 mm on April 1, 390 mm on April 2, just 2.4 mm on April 3, and no data on Monday.

The IMD terms rainfall between 64.5 to 115.5 mm as 'Heavy Rain'; between '115.6 to 204.4 mm' as 'Very Heavy Rain', and anything above 204.4 mm as 'Extremely Heavy Rain'.

In fact, most other locations in Meghalaya have received high rains as well, but it is just these two spots that have received abundant precipitation. Rainfall in other parts of Meghalaya was 410 mm in Anlarem, 240 mm in Mawjyrwat, 200 mm in Jowai, and 190 mm in Mawphlang as of 8.30 a.m. on Monday.

"These places - Mawsynram and Sohra - have a very typical shape of catchment area and presence of orographic features. The catchment is funnel shaped and opening towards south - facing Bay of Bengal - so whenever moisture-laden southerly winds are coming in lower level, they hit these places almost at 90 degrees and due to orographic lifting, these areas get enhanced rainfall," explained Sunit Das from IMD Guwahati.

According to IMD statistics, Cherrapunji got up to 644.2 mm of rain on April 16, 1990, during the pre-monsoon season. On April 24, 2016, it was 420 mm, and on April 27, 2017, it was 330 mm.

Under the influence of strong southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal to the northeastern states at lower tropospheric levels, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Meghalaya over the next five days, and isolated to scattered rainfall over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura over the next two days, followed by a reduction.

Isolated heavy rain is also expected in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, as well as in Assam-Meghalaya on April 5, 7, and 8, and in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal-Sikkim on April 5-7.