There is big and welcome news for the people of Bihar. Amid blistering heat and oppressive humidity, the monsoon has made a dramatic entry into the state. According to the Meteorological Centre, the northern limit of the monsoon has already covered several districts of Bihar, completely transforming the weather. In its initial phase, the monsoon entered the state through Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Purnia, Katihar, Madhepura and Madhubani. Weather scientists estimate that within the next 2 to 3 days the monsoon will gather more pace and embrace the entire state.
Alert Across All of Bihar — Orange in Some Areas, Yellow in Others
On Friday the weather department issued an alert for thunderstorms, heavy rain and lightning across all 38 districts of the state. For safety reasons, the warning has been divided into two categories.
Orange Alert in 19 Districts (Risk of Heavy Rain and Strong Storms)
The department has issued an orange alert for districts in central and south-western Bihar, including the capital Patna and Gaya. These mainly include Patna, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Kaimur, Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, East Champaran and West Champaran. Winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour and moderate to heavy rain are likely in these areas.
Yellow Alert in 19 Districts (Thunder and Moderate Rain Expected)
A yellow alert has been issued for 19 districts in north and east Bihar. These include Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Supaul, Saharsa, Khagaria, Munger, Jamui, Banka, Bhagalpur, Madhepura, Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj and Katihar. Intermittent rain accompanied by thunder is expected here.
Owing to the arrival of the monsoon and the pre-monsoon and monsoon rainfall over the past 24 hours, a sharp fall in Bihar's temperature has been recorded. In many areas, including the capital Patna, rain accompanied by strong winds has pushed the maximum temperature down by nearly 9 degrees Celsius below normal, giving people major relief from the severe heat. However, amid these fluctuations, Kaimur district was recorded as the hottest place in the state on Thursday at 36 degrees Celsius.
Why Did the Monsoon Arrive Early?
This time the monsoon has surprised everyone by knocking on Bihar's door ahead of its scheduled date. According to weather experts, there are two main geographical reasons behind this.
A Strong System: The low-pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal is in a very strong state at present.
Favourable Winds: Because of a cyclonic system in the atmosphere over eastern India, moist monsoon winds rising from the bay are rapidly advancing towards north and north-eastern Bihar. These favourable conditions helped the monsoon reach Bihar ahead of time.
What Will the Weather Be Like in the Coming Days?
The weather department says that monsoon activity will remain active across the whole of Bihar for the next 3 to 5 days. During this period most parts may see light to moderate rain, with heavy to very heavy rain at some places. According to agricultural experts, this early rainfall is nothing short of a blessing for farmers. The weather is highly suitable for preparing the nursery (seedbed) for kharif crops, especially paddy, and for sowing.
The Disaster Management Department and the Meteorological Centre have appealed to the public to avoid going into open fields, farms or under trees during bad weather, storms or thunder. Given the risk of lightning, people should take shelter in pucca houses and stay safe.
