The southwest monsoon, which normally begins retreating from western Rajasthan around September 1, is unlikely to commence withdrawing until the middle of September, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
“In view of north-south oscillation of monsoon trough and continuation of easterly flow over northwest India, the withdrawal of monsoon is not expected to commence till middle of September,” the department said. Total rainfall for the country as a whole during August remained 106 per cent of the long period average, with all the regions receiving normal to excess rainfall, it said.
The department said rains in the first week of September too have been either normal or excess over most parts of the country, barring the east and north-east region. It said in the week ending September 10, IMD expects increase in rainfall activity over Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, while north-east will receive rainfall for most of the days this week.
The weather department said widespread rainfall was also expected over Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi between September 4 and September 10. The department in its latest update on Sunday, said between June 1 and September 5 overall the country has recorded 752.7 mm rains, which was slightly above normal levels.
Showers in the paddy and tea-growing east and north-east India continued to be scanty with rain so far 21 per cent below normal. But rains in the other three regions were above normal. In the oilseed growing central India, rains have been 2 per cent above normal so far at 865.4 mm. Rain in the paddy bowl of north-west was 6 per cent above normal at 556.3 mm, IMD said.
It said rain in the coffee-growing southern peninsula during the period was 20 per cent above normal at 706.5 mm. The IMD in its outlook on Sunday has forecast fairly widespread rainfall activity would occur over west coast and northeast states and parts of north-west India.
Rain was 84 per cent of the 50-year average in June, and 98 per cent of the long-period average in July. Weather department officials said rains in August were around 103 per cent of the long period average. The IMD has forecast September rains at 115 per cent of the long period average.
