Guwahati: Rainfall has shifted from deficit to normal and excess in several states of the northeast, as widespread showers lashed various parts of the region over the past seven days. Among the seven northeastern states, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram experienced excess rainfall in the past 24 hours, whereas Assam and Arunachal Pradesh received normal rainfall during the same period. While in May, all seven northeastern states had been facing deficit rainfall until last week, incessant rain in recent days has pushed the rainfall status in Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh between normal and excess category for this month.

However, Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur still remain in the deficit rainfall category in May.Met officials said considering the substantial rainfall in northeastern states, except for Nagaland and Manipur, the deficit rainfall could move further towards the normal range in Tripura and Mizoram soon.IMD data on Sunday indicated that Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are the three northeastern states that experienced excess rainfall in the past 24 hours — from 8.30am on Saturday to 8.30am on Sunday.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh recorded normal category rainfall in the same period. Nagaland and Manipur have faced large deficits in rainfall and will require more rainfall to reach the status of states that have attained normal category rainfall in May, the final month of the pre-monsoon season.In the past 24 hours, Meghalaya witnessed the highest 58 per cent departure from normal, recording 21.6mm rainfall, followed by a 55 per cent departure from normal in Tripura (23.6mm rainfall), and a 41 per cent departure from normal in Mizoram (16.1mm rainfall).

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh registered departures of minus 6 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, both falling within the normal range.In Manipur and Nagaland, the deficit has been significant over the past 24 hours, standing at 63 per cent for both states. Manipur registered just 2mm rainfall while Nagaland recorded only 1.8mm rainfall.The weather bulletin issued by IMD on Sunday forecast fairly widespread to light or moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 30-50kmph likely over the northeast during the next seven days. The Met office has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh until May 20, over Assam and Meghalaya till May 24, and over Tripura and Nagaland on Sunday, with isolated very heavy rainfall over Assam and Meghalaya until May 20.