Recent flooding in Gujarat has claimed more than 15 lives. On August 26, Gujarat received 91.3 millimetres (mm) of rainfall — 1,764 per cent more than normal, according to IMD data.
- The highest rainfall of 206 mm was recorded in Morbi district, 9,264 per cent more than the average rainfall for the day.
- All this rainfall has been attributed to the deep depression.
About deep depression
- A deep depression is a cyclonic system with wind speeds of 51-62 kilometres per hour (km/h), usually forming over the sea as a precursor to a tropical cyclone.
- The formation of the deep depression is mainly due to abundant moisture supply from the Arabian Sea and also soil moisture plays a role in its intensification.
- However, its formation and intensification on land is rare. It is one notch below a tropical cyclone, which has wind speeds of 62-88 km/h.
- The rarity of the formation of a deep depression over land is due to the lack of abundant moisture required for the system to grow in size, generate winds, and accumulate rainfall, as compared to the sea. Only six land-based deep depressions have formed over India in the last decade.
