Southwest Monsoon is expected to remain normal this season, Predicts IMD

NEW-DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal monsoon for the entire season, saying that the country is likely to receive less than normal rainfall in June.

 D Sivananda Pai, head of IMD's Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (EMRC), said, "Parts of south peninsular India, north-west India, far north India and parts of north-east India Except, most parts of the country are expected to receive below normal rainfall in June. Northeast India is expected to receive above normal rainfall".

Despite the onset of El Nino, southwest monsoon is expected to remain normal this season, he said. He said that El Nino conditions occur due to the warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. He said that the monsoon core zone with most of the rain-fed agricultural areas of the country is likely to have normal monsoon rainfall, which is expected to be 94 to 106 percent of the long-term average (LPA).