Countdown to southwest monsoon begins, IMD predicts normal rainfall

Ahead of the arrival of the southwest monsoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted normal rainfall during the season this year.

The IMD on Thursday said that rainfall will be 96 per cent to 104 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 87 cm of the 1971-2020 period. Earlier, the IMD used to consider the LPA of 88cm of the 1961-2010 period.

“All-India rainfall normal based on 1971-2020 (period) for the southwest monsoon season is 868.6 mm. It will replace the normal of 880.6mm based on 1961-2010,” it said.

The department has said that normal to above-normal rainfall is most likely over many areas in the northern part of peninsular India, central India, along the foothills of the Himalayas and some parts of northwest India. Below normal rainfall is likely over many parts of northeast India, some parts of northwest India and southern parts of the southern peninsula.

In 2021, the country received “normal” rainfall during the four-month southwest monsoon season from June to September. The rainfall during June 1 to September 30 was 87 cm against the LPA of 88 cm of 1961-2010 (99 per cent of its LPA).

It was the third consecutive year that the country recorded rainfall in the normal or above-normal category.

The last season, however, saw a delayed retreat of monsoon – in October.

Rainfall was above normal in 2019 and 2020.