Did Rajasthan's Churu Just Experience Its Wettest June Ever?

Jaipur, June 30 (NationPress) In an extraordinary meteorological event, Churu — a district in Rajasthan famous for its extreme temperatures — recorded a staggering 85.1 mm of rainfall within the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day rainfall ever documented in June for the area, as confirmed by Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jaipur Centre.

The IMD reports that this surpasses the former record of 81.9 mm, which was noted on June 24, 1988. The data relies on records maintained since 1956. This remarkable downpour not only emphasizes the rising variability in monsoon patterns but also adds another chapter to Churu's distinctive weather history.

Churu is notoriously unpredictable regarding its climate. Although situated near the Thar Desert, one of the hottest regions in India, the district has also experienced extreme cold spells during winter.

On December 18, 2021, the temperature dropped to a chilling 1.1 degrees Celsius, while in 2020, it fell to a record low of -1.5 degrees Celsius, the coldest December temperature recorded in 46 years. The absolute lowest temperature was -4.6 degrees Celsius on December 28, 1973, with another low of -1.4 degrees Celsius recorded in 2011. Ice formation has even been observed here in the months of December and January.

Conversely, Churu is also recognized as one of the hottest places in India. On June 1 and 2, 2019, it reached a blistering 50.8 degrees Celsius, among the highest temperatures documented in the country.

Following this recent heavy rainfall, Churu noted the lowest minimum temperature in western Rajasthan at 27 degrees Celsius, with a maximum temperature recorded at 39.2 degrees Celsius over the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the desert state of Rajasthan has received a whopping 152 percent more rainfall than average this monsoon season.

According to a report from the Meteorological Department, the state received an average of 117.3 mm of rainfall from June 1 to June 28, compared to the normal average of 46.6 mm.

The ongoing rainfall has led to a significant drop in temperatures across eastern Rajasthan, where maximum temperatures now range between 30 degrees Celsius and 36 degrees Celsius.

Several other cities have also experienced relatively moderate temperatures in recent days — with Phalodi recording 37.8 degrees Celsius, Jaisalmer at 36.5 degrees Celsius, Barmer at 34.5 degrees Celsius, Pilani and Fatehpur at 37.2 degrees Celsius, Hanumangarh at 37.7 degrees Celsius, and Nagaur at 36.8 degrees Celsius.

The changing weather patterns in Rajasthan this season highlight both the intensity and unpredictability of monsoon activity across the region, officials remarked.