Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 15
Nagaland witnessed two consecutive days of intense rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD reporting exceptionally high departures from normal levels.
For the 24 hours ending 8:30 AM on September 14, the State recorded 33.4 mm of rain, against a daily normal of 6.5 mm or a huge 413% departure from the normal.
The following day, September 15, the trend continued with 30.6 mm of rainfall against the normal of 8.1 mm, marking a 278% departure.
Taken together, the two-day spell between September 14 and 15 brought an average of 32.0 mm of rainfall per day across the State, compared to the normal daily average of 7.3 mm, reflecting a massive 338% departure from the norm.
Meanwhile, on September 14, rainfall monitoring data from the IMD Meteorological Centre Kohima highlighted particularly heavy downpours in parts of Peren, Chümoukedima, and Mokokchung.
The Automatic Weather Station (AWS) at Jalukie in Peren district registered an unprecedented 121.0 mm, while the nearby Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) at Medziphema in Chümoukedima recorded 105.0 mm. Adjoining Dimapur received 59.0 mm. Further upward, Kohima (36.8 mm) and Tseminyu (43.5 mm) also recorded high precipitation, resulting in mudslides, landslides, and riverbank erosion, particularly along National Highway-29.
While specific data or duration is not available, the record spell of 121.0 mm in Jalukie and 105.0 mm in Medziphema crossed the IMD’s ‘cloudbursts’ threshold. As per IMD, the cloudbursts’ are short lived extreme weather events in which heavy rainfall occurs over very small areas (20-30 sq.km.) at a very faster rate (100mm/hr).
Elsewhere, Mokokchung too saw significant rainfall, with the AWS at Ongpangkong recording 65.3 mm, Mangkolemba 38.0 mm, and the town itself receiving 55.8 mm. Other locations with notable rainfall included Wokha (40.8 mm), Tuensang (Thonoknyu) 36.5 mm, and Aboi 34.5 mm.
Overall, rainfall distribution across the State on September 14 was categorised as “widespread,” covering 86% of the area. The coverage further increased to 96% on September 15, though the intensity subsided somewhat in several locations.
However, Mokokchung continued to bear the brunt, with the town recording 86.6 mm, the AWS at Ongpangkong 83.8 mm, and Tuli registering 45.3 mm. Substantial showers were also reported in other parts of the State, including Zunheboto (68.3 mm), Aboi in Mon (54.5 mm), Kohima (41.2 mm), and Jalukie (34.0 mm).
The heavy downpours caused widespread damage in several districts. In Chümoukedima, a fresh breach occurred along the Chathe River near the Tsiedukhru (Pagla Pahar) stretch of NH-29, marking the third such incident in two years. In Dimapur, waterlogging disrupted traffic in low-lying areas, while in Peren, swollen streams damaged approach roads and local transport links.
Cumulatively, rainfall in Nagaland between September 1–15 stood at 131.33 mm, which is 16% above the normal (113.3 mm). However, the sharp spikes of September 14 and 15 underscored the growing risks posed by high-intensity, short-duration rainfall events.
An IMD weather update on Monday afternoon forecast heavy rainfall spells to continue in isolated places of Nagaland till September 21. It is likely to be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in a few areas, it added.
