Another record for Cherrapunji: 972 mm rainfall in a day, 3rd highest in 122 years

Just two days after recording 811.6 mm of rainfall in a day, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya received a bountiful 972 mm of precipitation in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, highest in June since 1995 and third highest in 122 years, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

One of wettest places in world, Cherrapunji has recorded more than 800 mm of precipitation on a June day on nine occasions since IMD started keeping records in 1901, IMD data showed. Till Friday, Cherrapunji has received a total of 4081.3 mm rainfall this month, Sunit Das, Scientist E at IMD's regional centre in Guwahati, said.

In 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Wednesday, town nestled in East Khasi Hills gauged a copious 811.2 mm of rainfall.

On June 16, 1995, Cherrapunji logged 1563.3 mm of rainfall. A day before, on June 15, 1995, it received 930 mm of precipitation.

hill station reported 973.8 mm of precipitation on June 5, 1956. "It doesn't always rain like this. 50-60 cm is normal (in Cherrapunji) once or twice every year. But 80 cm and above is certainly not usual," Das told PTI.

"A trough has been persisting over region for some days and southwesterly winds have been continuously bringing a lot of moisture from Bay of Bengal. se winds smash against cliffs of Khasi hills and give rainfall," he said.

Cherrapunji recorded 673.6 mm of rainfall on Thursday, 811.6 mm on Wednesday, 62.6 mm on Tuesday, 293 mm on Monday and 354 mm on Sunday.

spell of extreme rainfall is likely to continue for one or two days. reafter, intensity will decrease, Das said.

At an aerial distance of 10 km from Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, wettest place in India, gauged 710.6 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am Wednesday, maximum since June 1966.

On June 10, 1966, Mawsynram h recorded 717.6 mm of rainfall. On June 7, 1966, it h received 944.7 mm of precipitation, highest on a June day since IMD began maintaining records.

town h gauged a 24-hour rainfall of 623.4 mm on June 8, 2015. "Mawsynram is at present wettest place in India, with an average annual rainfall of 11802.4 mm (average of 1974-2022 period). Cherrapunji receives 11359.4 mm of rainfall in a year (average of 1971-2020 period)," Das said.

IMD has issued a red alert, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Meghalaya and Assam in next two days.

"A trough at mean sea level runs from northwest Uttar Presh to Manipur across Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Assam. Moisture incursion is very likely to continue due to strong lower-level sourly/southwesterly winds from Bay of Bengal during June 17-20," it said in a special bulletin.

"Under its influence, widespre rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms/lightning/ heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely to continue over norastern states during June 17-20 and decrease in rainfall intensity reafter," bulletin re. Overall, norast and east India has received 220.3 mm of rainfall, 39% more than normal, since June 1 when monsoon season starts.

Meghalaya has gauged 865.7 mm of rainfall, 153% more than normal, since June 1.

Arunachal Presh has recorded 253.1 mm of rainfall, 22% more than normal, while Assam has logged 372.9 mm of rainfall, an excess of 79%.

However, not all states in region have seen good rainfall. Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura have reported a rainfall deficiency of 50%, 46% and 38%.  

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