RAPTI SYSTEM:- All the rivers of the district flow from north-west to south-east and belong to two main systems that of Rapti in the north and the Ghaghara in the south. Each is fed by numerous tributaries, but the majority, of latter are of little importance, as they only serve to carry of the surface water during the rainy season of the year
RAPTI:- The Rapti rises in the mountains of Nepal, and after traversing the Bahraich district enters the district Gonda on the western border of the Balrampur Pargana near the village of Mathura. It flows thence in a very tortuous course through Balrampur as far as the Utraula boundary and then separates the two parganas till it reach the Basti district at the Materia Ghat. At that point it bends southwards and forms the district boundary as far as its junction with the Suwawan Nadi in the south-east of pargana Utraula. The banks are usually high, but the river is continually changing its course. It only overflow its banks in very wet seasons, but then, instead of covering the submerged land with sand.
BURHI RAPTI:- On either side of the Rapti, but especially on the north, the country is cut up by innumerable deserted channels of the river. Many of these contain water for a part of the year only but the only one which can be considered as a definite stream is that know as the Burhi Rapti which emerges near Mathura and flow across the district in a direction roughly parallel to that of the Rapti as far as the Basti border. Thence instead of turning south, it maintains an easterly course and for a considerable distance separates the Tulsipur Pargana from Basti. This intercepts the water of all tributary streams, which bring down the drainage from the hills to the north and consequently attains a times large proportions. In wet year it overflows and practicaly forms one stream with the Rapti, almost whole of the intervening country being under water.
SUWANA NALA:- This Nala issuing from western area of the district, flowing through the city of Balrampur and Bhagwatiganj, joints in the river near the village Rasoolabad at Utraula tehsil. Near Balrampur district look like narrow lakes. Further its appears like Nala and before joining Rapti in raining seasons it appears like a deep river.
KUWANA:- This river flows with slow speed becoming the helping of Ghaghra water fall and joins river Jaida and Pidar Nala embracing in her bosom along with deep banks of river and dense forest of the district. This river was known in ancient India “Kardami” flowing through Gonardh state.
BISHUHI:- This river joins Kuwana, flowing through Rehra block and goes passing by southern area of deep small and narrow river of the district. It covers very small part of the district.
CLIMATE:- The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season from about the middle of November to February is followed by the summer season from March to about the middle of June. The south-west monsoon season is from the middle of June to September. October and first half of November constitutes the post-monsoon or transition season.
Rainfall :-The avarage annual rainfal in the district is 1153.1 mm.
Temperature :-
There is a meteorological observatory in the district at Balrampur. The
records of the observatory may be taken as representative of the climatic
conditions prevailing the district in general. After the second week of
February there is steady increase in temperature.
May is generally the hottest month with the mean daily maximum temperature
at 39.90 C and the mean daily minimum at 24.60 C
.The summer is intensely hot and individual days maximum temperature
may be as high as 480 C. The hot laden winds which blow on many
days in the summer season particularly in the southern parts of the district
make the weather very tiring. After noon thunder showers which occur on some
days during the summer bring some relief, though only temporarily. With the
advance of the monsoon in to the district by about the middle of June there
is appreciable drop in the day temperature. The nights during the monsoon
are nearly as warm as during the summer. There is a slight increase in day
temperature during September but the nights become progressively cooler by
the end of September. After October there is rapid fall in the both day and
daily maximum temperature at 22.90C and the mean daily minimum
at 8.3 0C. In the winter season, cold waves affect the district
in the wake of passing western disturbances and minimum temperature
occasionally drops down to about a degree above freezing point of water.
Humidity:- Generally mornings are highly humid except in the summer season humidifies are between 35 and 50 percent. In the south-west monsoon the relative humidity exceeds 75 percent. In the rest of year, humidity is comparatively less specially it the afternoons. The most dry part of the year is summer when in the afternoon is relative humidifies are less than 30 percent.
Cloudness:- In the south-west monsoon season and for brief spell of a day of two in the cold season with the district is affected by passing western disturbances heavily clouded or overcast skies prevail. In the rest of the year the skies are mostly clear or some times lightly clouded.
Winds :- During the month of November winds are generally calm. the wind speed increases from December and reaches maximum strength during May and decreases later upto October. From November to April winds blow mostly from west or north-west. Easterlies which are practically absent during December gradually increase in frequency during morning up till May when easterlies are most frequent. However, in the afternoons of May the winds are mostly from west or north-west. From June to September the easterlies are most frequent, during mornings and afternoons both. October is the month of transition when easterlies are most frequent during mornings and westerly and north-westerly in the afternoons.
