Pre-Monsoon Thunderstorms: A lot of noise, but only scanty rainfall thus far

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 29 April: The pre-monsoon season is in spate in Sikkim with its signature evening thunderstorms which keep the mornings hot and dusty and bring in the chill every evening.
The Meteorologist Incharge at Gangtok Meteorological Centre, GN Raha, confirms that such thunderstorms are ‘normal’ during the pre-monsoon period, but, for all this noise and fury, the State has not been received ‘normal’ rainfall for this part of the year.
He explained that the pre-monsoon season [March to May] and post-monsoon season [October to December] bring substantial thunderstorm activities. Of the two phases, the thunderstorms of the pre-monsoon are much more violent.

This is because the three factors of insulation, moisture incursion and triggering forces like disturbances, cyclonic circulation, turf and others are more prevalent in the March to May skies.
Mr Raha informs that such activities are likely to continue for some more days and projected that after the weekend, the north district is likely to receive a good amount of rainfall, even possible snowfall, due to the passage of the ‘western disturbance’ over it.
As things stand though, up to 28 April, the seasonal rainfall [March to May] has been less than 40% of normal, he informed.
It should have rained 380 mm by now but only 229 mm has fallen till date this season.
That said, he informed that the IMD has already forecast that the 2011 South West Monsoon Rainfall [1 June to 30 September] for the country will be normal.
Meanwhile, it continues to be hot, with the hottest temperature recorded in April this year in Gangtok was 23.2 degree Celsius on 17 April; Tadong at 28.1 degree Celsius on 22 April, Majhiitar at a sweltering 35.1 degree Celsius on 24 April, Mangan at 25.6 degree Celsius on 17 April and Namthang at 26 degree Celsius on 27 April.