Monsoon starts withdrawing, rainfall 9% below normal, show IMD data

IMD also issued the operational forecast for the 2018 northeast monsoon season, which causes 30% of the annual rainfall

The southwest monsoon has started withdrawing from west Rajasthan and the Kutch region of Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday, marking the end of its four-month journey over India.

The season is expected to end with a cumulative rainfall deficiency of 9 per cent. This means the country registered below-normal rainfall in 2018, contrary to the IMD’s forecast of normal rain. Twelve of the 36 meteorological subdivisions recorded deficient rainfall, while the rest witnessed normal to excess rain. In total, 38 per cent of the 662 districts received below-normal rain.

“In view of anti-cyclone established over Rajasthan