Jamshedpur, June 30: The first monsoon month of 2016 has disappointed Jharkhand, resulting in a rainfall deficit of 40 per cent, but all hope is not lost with weathermen predicting a July shower show.

Met statistics today revealed that the state had recorded 120.9mm, against a normal average of 197.5mm, making it the 
driest June in eight years. Last year, monsoon was munificent despite its late arrival and June had ended with 5 per cent loss. 

Weathermen explained that the absence of a strong system over the Bay of Bengal all through June had put a pause on rainfall activity. “Shifting of the monsoon trough towards central India and absence of a system over the Bay resulted in below normal rain,” said A.K. Sen, the director of Patna Meteorological Centre. 

The Ranchi Meteorological Centre held out hope for July. “A cyclonic circulation over the west central Bay, which is expected to get converted into a low-pressure trough, will result in a good spell of rain after the next 24 hours in Jharkhand, especially in southern, central and eastern parts of the state. Monsoon will gain momentum after this,” said D.G. Hedau, a senior Met official.

Hedau added that the initial deficit was not worrying and that rainfall in the month of July would help the state recover the loss. 

A weather analyst in Patna said satellite pictures indicated that the monsoon trough line had descended to lower layers of the atmosphere and this could trigger widespread rain in the first week of July.

Districts that recorded deficit rainfall include Ranchi, Khunti, Chatra, Daltonganj, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Garhwa, Koderma, Sahebganj, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Simdega, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Pakur, Lohardaga, Latehar and West Singhbhum.

Only three districts — Dumka, Jamtara and Deoghar — have registered surplus while the remaining ones have witnessed normal rainfall.