Not for long: Sunny skies in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, July 6: Mind your umbrella over the next couple of days. Else, you could find yourself helpless in a sudden downpour.

Weathermen claimed that the sunny skies for the past two days won’t remain cloud-free for long. Rain is expected in the next 48 hours. A favourable system to strengthen monsoon over the state capital would be formed in this time.

“At present, monsoon is considerably weak in north India because of a slight southern shift of a trough line existing between Rajasthan and Bay of Bengal. The trough line is expected to retain its position in the next 48 hours, leading to a revival of the rains,” said Animesh Chanda, the director of Patna Met department.

There was been no rainfall in the state capital on July 5. A slight drizzle of 0.8mm was recorded today.

The temperature is also unlikely to vary much over this period. It would differ by two degrees from the normal temperature, which is 33°C for the month of July. The maximum temperature today was 33.7°C.

Residents of the city are looking forward to a revival of the monsoon.

“Although the rain gods have been benevolent this year, the weather becomes really uncomfortable if it does not rain for a couple of days. The humidity is too high during monsoon. Rain followed by winds bring the temperature down and gives us some relief. Despite the utter chaos on the filthy roads of Patna during monsoon, rain is always welcome,” said Pratyush Kumar, a resident of Ashiana Nagar.

Patna has received high rainfall this monsoon.

“The actual average rainfall in Patna from June 1 till date is 317mm against the normal average of 172.4mm for this period. This implies 84 per cent higher rainfall,” added Chanda.

Rain-bearing winds entered the eastern parts of the state on June 15 this year and by June 17 it covered the whole state.

The entire state has received 48 per cent more rainfall this monsoon so far. The actual average rainfall is recorded at 321.5mm against a normal average of 221.6mm.

In 31 districts, the actual average rainfall is more than the normal average rainfall this year. The normal average rainfall in Bihar is expected at 1024.1mm during monsoon between June and September.

With good rain, the fear of flood has gripped the residents of some districts.

Patna Met department has set up a flood meteorological office to forecast rainfall and floods in the rivers of Bihar.

At present, river Bagmati is flowing above the danger-level at three places — Benibad, Kansar and Dubbahar — in Sheohar district.

River Kosi is also flowing above the danger-level at Basua in Supaul district.