Good News! IMD forecasts normal monsoon this year at 97%

New Delhi, April 17: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that the monsoon would be normal pan India with the long period average being 97%.

There was very less probability of a deficient monsoon, he said, adding that another assessment will be made in June.

The date of onset of monsoon will be announced in the middle of May. The four-month monsoon season provides about 70 percent of the country’s annual rainfall.

Usually, southwest monsoon is tipped to arrive at the end of May hitting the shores of Kerala first.

The monsoon is considered normal if the average rainfall is between 96 to 104 per cent of long period average. Anything less than 90 per cent of LPA is termed a deficient monsoon, and 90-96 per cent of the same is considered below normal.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues operational forecast for the southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall for the country as a whole in two stages. The first stage forecast is issued in April and the second stage forecast is issued in June.

These forecasts are prepared using state-of-the-art Statistical Ensemble Forecasting system (SEFS) that is critically reviewed and improved regularly through in-house research activities.