Monsoon rain in August is likely to be around 3 per cent above normal while rainfall in September should be more than the levels usually witnessed in the last month of the season, a senior official of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
“Rainfall in August until Wednesday is 103 per cent of normal and the total rainfall in the month too should be around that level,” the official told NewsWire18.
He said total rainfall in September should be higher than 17.5 cm that the country normally receives during the month with peninsular and central India expected to get very good rain.
The Met department has forecast August-September rain at 107 per cent of the long period average and total rains in the Jun-Sep season at 102 per cent.
June-September rains are critical for kharif crops such as paddy, cotton, pulses and oilseeds as nearly 60 per cent of the country’s arable land is rain dependent.
The official said in the week ended August 25, the country received 71.9 mm rains, 29 per cent above the 50-year weighted average of 55.6 mm. Of the 36 subdivisions in the country, 27 received excess or normal rains during the week, while 9 got deficient rains.
In the previous week, total rains were 6 per cent below normal.
The southwest monsoon rains this year have been widespread, barring the east and northeast, where they have been scanty with precipitation so far 21 per cent below average. Bihar, Jharkhand and several other regions in the east have been highly deficit in rains, affecting standing paddy and maize crops.
East and northeast India have received good rains in the past three days and the Met department has forecast more rains for the region in the coming days.
“Despite a pick-up in rains, Jharkhand and some other parts in the region will end up with below-normal rains in the season,” the official said.
He said the soybean-growing state of Madhya Pradesh has received less rain, but showers have been widespread and would be beneficial for the crop.
Rain in the country between June 1 and August 25 have been 2 per cent below normal.
