The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a normal monsoon for the entire season, saying the country is likely to receive below normal rainfall in June.
D Shivanand Pai, head of IMD’s Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (EMRC), said, “Except for some areas of south peninsular India, northwest India, far north India and some areas of northeast India, most parts of the country in June. Less than normal rainfall is expected. Northeast India is likely to receive above normal rainfall.
He told a press conference that despite the onset of El Nino, the southwest monsoon is expected to be normal this season. He said that El Nino conditions arise due to the warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
He said that the monsoon core zone comprising most of the rain-fed agriculture areas of the country is expected to receive normal seasonal rainfall, which is expected to be 94 to 106 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).
