After experiencing a predominantly dry beginning to January, Haryana has witnessed a remarkable turnaround in its rainfall pattern, largely attributed to a single late-month wet spell. The state has now recorded a substantial 45% cumulative excess in rainfall, although this overall surplus masks significant variations at the district level, with several areas remaining near-normal or even deficient.
State-Wide Rainfall Overview
According to the latest data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Haryana received 19.7 millimeters of rainfall between January 1 and 29, significantly surpassing the normal benchmark of 13.6 millimeters. This impressive performance has propelled the state into a surplus category, marking a notable shift from the earlier dry conditions that characterized the month.
Gurgaon Emerges as Rainfall Leader
Gurgaon has emerged as one of the standout performers in terms of rainfall accumulation. The district has recorded 19 millimeters of rainfall so far this month, compared to a normal expectation of 10 millimeters. This translates to a remarkable 90% surplus, positioning Gurgaon among the top beneficiaries of the recent precipitation.
What makes Gurgaon's rainfall particularly noteworthy is its concentration. Almost the entire monthly total of 19 millimeters was delivered during the late-January wet spell, with a staggering 18.9 millimeters falling between January 23 and 29 alone. This represents a weekly departure of 529%, highlighting the intensity of the rainfall system that affected the region during this period.
District-Wide Rainfall Variations
The rainfall distribution across Haryana reveals a complex picture of both surpluses and deficits:
High Surplus Districts
- Kurukshetra emerged as the wettest district in cumulative terms, recording 52 millimeters against a normal of 17.4 millimeters, representing a 199% excess.
- Ambala followed closely with 56.1 millimeters, marking a 110% surplus compared to normal expectations.
- Bhiwani logged 21.3 millimeters against a normal of 9.8 millimeters, achieving a 117% surplus.
- Chandigarh, though not strictly part of Haryana but often included in regional weather assessments, received 63.6 millimeters this month, translating to an 85% surplus.
Moderate Surplus Districts
Several districts moved into surplus territory despite relatively modest monthly totals:
- Panipat recorded 32.9 millimeters (89% surplus)
- Jhajjar received 15.5 millimeters (82% surplus)
- Fatehabad logged 23.8 millimeters (80% surplus)
- Kaithal recorded 26.4 millimeters (71% surplus)
- Panchkula received 44.8 millimeters (50% surplus)
Southern Haryana's Uneven Distribution
Across southern Haryana, cumulative rainfall remained notably uneven. Faridabad stood at 11.9 millimeters against a normal of 11.8 millimeters, effectively maintaining near-normal status. Other districts in the region showed more modest gains:
- Palwal recorded 11.6 millimeters (47% surplus)
- Rewari received 10.5 millimeters (42% surplus)
- Nuh recorded 9.4 millimeters (16% surplus)
- Rohtak received 15.8 millimeters (17% surplus)
This pattern indicates that much of southern Haryana's monthly rainfall gains were driven primarily by last week's showers, with less consistent precipitation throughout the month.
Deficit Districts
Despite the overall state surplus, several districts continued to face significant rainfall deficits:
- Sirsa recorded just 3.2 millimeters against a normal of 8.1 millimeters, representing a substantial 60% shortfall, making it the most rain-deficient district so far this month.
- Mahendragarh remained in deficit territory at -13%
- Sonepat was 28% below normal
- Charkhi Dadri was marginally deficient at -2%
Weekly Rainfall Intensity Analysis
Weekly data highlights the extraordinary intensity of the late-January weather system that swept across Haryana. Between January 23 and 29, several districts recorded exceptional weekly departures from normal rainfall:
- Kurukshetra: 654% departure
- Ambala: 633% departure
- Chandigarh: 626% departure
- Gurgaon: 529% departure
These figures underscore how a concentrated period of intense rainfall has dramatically altered the monthly rainfall statistics for Haryana, transforming what began as a dry month into one with significant surplus at the state level.
The rainfall pattern observed in January serves as a reminder of how localized weather systems can create substantial variations in precipitation across relatively small geographical areas, with some districts experiencing dramatic surpluses while others continue to face deficits despite the overall positive trend.
