India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday forecast “below normal” rain in August and during August-September period. It predicted quantitatively less than 94 per cent of the long period average rainfall during the second half of the monsoon.
The weather bureau stuck to its earlier forecast of 90 per cent (or 781.74 mm) rainfall during the four-month season even though June-July recorded 13 per cent deficit. Sources said that even if there is “below normal” rain, the intensity of deficiency may not be high.
“It may be close to around 93 per cent (or 393 mm) of its LPA of 422.8 mm in August-September, potentially easing pressure on many agriculture crops,” an official source said, adding that in a worst case scenario, it will not be less than 84 per cent.
