A statistical study of thunderstorm activity over Agartala airfield

Abstract

The results of a study of thunderstorm activity over Agartala airfield based on data for the years 1957 to 1959 have been presented in this paper, There are, on the average, 105 days of thundery conditions per year when about 126 thunderstorms occur, These thunderstorms are often associated with severe squalls and, on a few occasions, with hail.  The thundery activity over Agartala airfield begins perceptibly in February, gradually attains a maximum in May and June, subsides only slightly during the monsoon months and suddenly shoots up to a much higher maximum in September to dwindle gradually by the end of October, Occurrence and persistence over long duration of thunderstorms on a large number of days during monsoon months constitute an interesting feature of the weather at Agartala.  Monthly frequencies of thunderstorms, their duration, their prevalence during various hours of the day, and percentage of rainfall associated with thunderstorms are also discussed.