As for the main features of rainfall pattern during the week ended October 21, rainfall activity was excessive -- plus 20 per cent or more -- over most parts of the country. Cumulative rainfall for October 98 was normal -- plus 19 per cent to minus 19 per cent -- to excess -- plus 20 per cent or more -- in 30 out of 35 meteorological sub-divisions.

Seasonal rainfall during October 1 to 21 was deficient -- minus 20 per cent to minus 59 per cent -- in East Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry while it was scanty -- minus 60 per cent to minus 99 per cent -- in the regions of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

There was excessive seasonal rainfall in more than 20 regions across the country including in areas like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gangetic West Bengal, BiharPlains, Hills and Plains of West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Rajastahn, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal and Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

Depression to cyclonic storm: Last week's depression in West Central Arabian sea further intensified into a deep depression on October 15 and located about 1,050 km west of Goa. The system started moving in north-easterly direction and concentrated into a cyclonic storm by the evening of October 16. Moving further north-eastwards, this cyclonic storm crossed Saurashtra coast near Veraval in the morning hours of 17th. After crossing the coast, it weakened into a deep depression and lay centred about 50 km northwest of Bhavnagar at 0830 hours of 17th. The system gradually weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over North Gujarat and South Rajastahn on 18th and became unimportant thereafter.

For the week under review, Arunachal Pradesh turned out to be an area from where data received were inadequate forcomputation, according to IMD sources.

During the week ended October 21, rainfall occurred at most places in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Marathwada, Vidarbha, Hills of West Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim, Orissa, Telengana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. During the same period, rainfall occurred at many places in J & K, Haryana, Rajasthan, Plains of West Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Madhya Maharashtra, and North Interior Karnataka and at few or isolated places in the rest of the regions of the country.

Departure from normal in percentage: The highest departure from normal rainfall occurred during the week under review in West Rajastahn where the departure registered was plus 5,013 per cent, followed by Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi regions with plus 3,499 per cent.

Other regions with high percentage departures from normal rainfall included Himachal Pradesh with plus2,245 per cent, Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu with plus 3,264 per cent and Hills of West UP with plus 1,615 per cent.

The lowest departure from normal rainfall was registered by the Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram regions with minus 10 per cent, followed by Assam and Meghalaya with minus 12 per cent rainfall. Other regions with low departures from normal rainfall included Kerala with minus 11 per cent, Lakshadweep with minus 45 per cent and Rayalaseema with minus 40 per cent departure.

PTI adds from Pune: Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, West Bengal and Sikkim, Orissa, Bihar Plateau, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Lakshadweep and at isolated places in Bihar plains.

The same situation is likely over east Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Mainly dry weather will prevail over the rest of the country, according to forecast issued by central observatory here today.

Acyclonic circulation at 1.5 kms a.S.L. lies over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood. The western disturbance as an upper air system over Jammu and Kashmir and neighbourhood persists.

It is likely to move east-northeastwards later. The trough extending upto 2.1 kms a.S.L. over east Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and neighbourhood has become less marked.

The trough at 1.5 kms a.S.L. from Arunachal Pradesh to south Konkan and Goa has also become less marked.

Heavy rain and thundershowers have occurred at a few places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and East Madhya Pradesh and at isolated places in West Bengal and Sikkim. Rains also lashed Orissa, West Madhya Pradesh, Konkan and Goa, madhya Maharahstra, Rayalaseema and south interior Karnataka.Mainly dry weather prevailed over the rest of the country.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cms are: Mumbai (scz) 5.2, canning town 2.5, Tumkur 1.2, Arogyavaram 1.1 , Port Blair 1.0, Gangtok 0.8, Nasik and Maya Bandar 0.6 each, Balasore and Jagdalpur 0.5 each andIndore 0.3.