Normal monsoon this year, 96 pc rainfall expected: IMD

In what could possibly trigger a positive impact, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday predicted a normal monsoon in 2023.

IMD Director General (DG) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that quantitatively the southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 96 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of +/- 5 per cent.

“The Long period average rainfall over country as a whole based on data of 1971- 2020 is 87 cm. It is based on both statistical and dynamic models used by IMD,” said Mohapatra.

As per IMD, normal rainfall is likely over many areas of peninsular India and adjoining  East Central India, East India, Northeast India and over some parts of Northwest India.

Normal to below normal rainfall is likely over some areas of Northwest India and parts of west central India and some pockets of northeast India.

“El Nino conditions are likely to develop during the monsoon season and its impact may be seen during the second half of the season,” said IMD DG.