The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects slightly more rain in August than it anticipated in June but, overall, the country is likely to end up with less rain than anticipated. However, monsoon rains in August and September would be “favourably distributed” and help agricultural production, according to a press statement from the agency on Friday.
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Monsoon rains would be “95% of the LPA (Long Period Average) of August and September,” the statement read. That works out to 41.2 cm and, if the forecast holds, India would have received 84 cm of rain (95% of LPA) between June and September. In May, the IMD had forecast 97%, or 86 cm. A two cm shortfall, is a significant amount.
Officials said the forecast for marginally improved rains in August was due to their models suggesting a delay in El Nino conditions.
On Wednesday, private forecaster Skymet Weather said monsoon rains would be at 92% of the historical LPA of 89 cm.
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