Skymet counters IMD on monsoon accuracy

Overall shortfall of 5% from normal; states struggle to declare drought

The state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the country’s largest private weather forecaster, Skymet, have once again found themselves in the eye of the storm over the accuracy of monsoon predictions. 

The monsoon, after making a steady start in June and July, went for an extended break in August and early September, pulling down the total cumulative seasonal rainfall. The 2017 southwest monsoon season ended on Saturday, with an overall shortfall of 5 per cent from normal. In meteorological terms, it could be classified as ‘below-normal’ at 95 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA). However, the IMD had forecast