Monsoon Drama in Uttar Pradesh: From Shortfall to Sudden Soakings
If you live in Lucknow, get your raincoats ready because the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects heavy rainfall to lash the city and nearby districts on August 3 and 4. This sudden wet spell is thanks to a shifted monsoon trough mixing it up with cyclonic winds swirling over eastern Bihar. Scientists at the IMD say these ingredients make a perfect recipe for serious showers and thundershowers, which could make the next few days messier than usual.
It’s a wild twist, given that just last week, folks in Lucknow were grumbling about a stubborn rainfall deficit. According to the IMD, the city has only seen 234.9 mm so far this season, falling far short of its 317.3 mm average—about 26% less than normal. All of Uttar Pradesh was running a 6% deficit by late July, but now the clouds seem eager to play catch-up.
Split States: Rainfall Gaps Across UP
Here’s where things get interesting: Uttar Pradesh isn’t blanketed by the same weather.
- Western districts are actually doing better than usual, with a rainfall surplus. Varanasi has been practically swimming in a 25% above-normal downpour. Prayagraj is at 20% extra rain, and Kanpur not far behind with 16% more than its typical share.
- On the flip side, the east is parched. Gorakhpur has seen just over half its usual rain, racking up a 42% deficit. Deoria and Kushinagar barely look like they’ve had a true monsoon—they’re 50-70% below what’s normal for this time of year. Lucknow, sitting towards the east, is among those still waiting for decent relief.
So what does all this mean for daily life and the coming days? Temperatures in Lucknow will likely drop by 2 to 4°C, which is a welcome break for sweaty city dwellers. Cloudy skies and persistent thundershowers give at least some relief from the heat, but also mean you may want to call off those park plans and gear up for waterlogged streets.
Don’t forget the rivers: The Ganga and Yamuna—and all those other minor rivers weaving through the state—are on high alert. With such intense rain on the radar, local authorities and residents alike will be watching water levels closely. Flooding has become a genuine concern, especially in places where the ground is already soaked or drainage isn’t up to scratch.
IMD’s weather pros, Atul Kumar Singh and Mohammad Danish, remain cautiously hopeful. They see a solid chance that monsoon rains in August and September could surge, possibly leveling off the deficit. This would be good news for farmers looking to salvage their kharif crops and for people living in dry districts hoping to replenish water supplies. Still, for folks in eastern UP—especially around Deoria and Kushinagar—catching up may seem like a pipe dream, at least for now. If the rains pick up, the story could flip again, but until then, every forecast counts.