IMD forecasts below normal rainfall in August

New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday warned that August will be worse than July as the forecast for monsoon showers is only 90 per cent of the average rainfall.

“The rainfall forecast throughout the country during July is likely to be 92 per cent of the long-period average and 90 per cent of the average in August,” said  an IMD official.  According to the official, both July and August rainfall would be “below normal”.

Except  North-west India, all other regions have experienced below-normal monsoon rainfall this year. The seasonal deficiency so far is seven per cent, which the weathermen fear might increase.

The drop was 14 per cent between July 7-15, but heavy showers in



the subsequent week in western India and eastern pockets made it up somewhat. El Nino has adversely affected the monsoon so far and as per the model forecasts, it is expected to affect the monsoon in the coming months, said the IMD official. 

Moderate EL Nino conditions are persisting in the Pacific at the moment and latest forecasts indicate EL Nino conditions are likely to strengthen further during the remaining months of the monsoon and post-monsoon season.

IMD predicted a “below normal” monsoon in April and subsequently a “deficient” monsoon in June. But a wet June raised hopes among farmers, who went for an overdone by sowing 60 percent more than what was sown in  the corresponding period last year.