|
|
|
| September 1, 2002 | Sunday | Jamadi-us-Saani 22,1423 |
Rains relief for weather pundits
LAHORE, Aug 31: Adequate rains in the length and breadth of the country during August have not only filled Tarbela and specially Mangla dams but also relieved the weather experts, fearing bouncing of their above normal rainfall prediction for the monsoon season because of the almost dry July.
“The rain though without any special monsoon system is a relief and has filled the Mangla dam after three years,” Chief Meteorologist Shaukat Ali Awan told Dawn on Saturday.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department had started revising its forecast of the above normal rains by the end of July when there was no or less rain during the month.
The country had received the little rain during July only through the westerly systems. Even the monsoon current from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea was too weak to cause any significant rainfall.
The situation changed during August when areas like Balakot, Kamra and Rawalakot received 188mm, 200mm and 53mm of rain in a single day. Islamabad and adjoining areas like Murree too received heavy rain at times during the month.
According to Mr Awan, the single monsoon pressure which came to Pakistan from the Bay of Bengal gave rain in Karachi and lower Sindh.
The rain in the Punjab was caused by the conjunction of moisture from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea, and westerly waves. There was no flood generating or catastrophic downpour but whatever the rain the country had it filled the dams without causing any damage, he said.
There was rain over the catchment areas of Mangla which filled it. Rain over the upper catchment areas of the Chenab raised its level from 69,000 cusecs to 145,000 cusecs which was significant, Mr Awan said. LAHORE, Aug 31: Adequate rains in the length and breadth of the country during August have not only filled Tarbela and specially Mangla dams but also relieved the weather experts, fearing bouncing of their above normal rainfall prediction for the monsoon season because of the almost dry July.
“The rain though without any special monsoon system is a relief and has filled the Mangla dam after three years,” Chief Meteorologist Shaukat Ali Awan told Dawn on Saturday.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department had started revising its forecast of the above normal rains by the end of July when there was no or less rain during the month.
The country had received the little rain during July only through the westerly systems. Even the monsoon current from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea was too weak to cause any significant rainfall.
The situation changed during August when areas like Balakot, Kamra and Rawalakot received 188mm, 200mm and 53mm of rain in a single day. Islamabad and adjoining areas like Murree too received heavy rain at times during the month.
According to Mr Awan, the single monsoon pressure which came to Pakistan from the Bay of Bengal gave rain in Karachi and lower Sindh.
The rain in the Punjab was caused by the conjunction of moisture from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea, and westerly waves. There was no flood generating or catastrophic downpour but whatever the rain the country had it filled the dams without causing any damage, he said.
There was rain over the catchment areas of Mangla which filled it. Rain over the upper catchment areas of the Chenab raised its level from 69,000 cusecs to 145,000 cusecs which was significant, Mr Awan said.
|
|
|
|
