NEW DELHI: Average rainfall in India during the second half of monsoon season (Aug-Sept) is most likely to be ‘below normal’, IMD said Friday, flagging the continuing risk of El Niño, which is associated with a weak monsoon.Last month, IMD had cited El Niño’s impact to forecast below normal rains in July. The month’s rainfall turned out to be normal due to plentiful showers in central India. The met department attributed this to “intra-seasonal variability”, saying a record 24 days were under the influence of ‘low pressure systems’ (LPS) in July against normal of about 13.5 days.“Four LPS were formed over Bay of Bengal that led to good rainfall from Odisha to Gujarat. We need to further analyse the reason (for better-than-expected July rains). These LPS couldn’t be captured by our long-range forecast model,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD chief. July rain gives hope to farm sectorTwo long wet spells, one during the first week of July and the second from July 22 onwards, helped reduce the overall monsoon rainfall deficit in the country from 35% in June to nearly 13% at the end of July. Since the ‘monsoon core zone’, where farming operations remain mainly rain-fed, largely coincides with central India, good rains in the region could aid recovery of acreage in the month.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThough overall acreage of the summer sown crops continues to be in deficit compared to the corresponding period last year, the deficit reduced from nearly 21% on July 3 to around 3% on July 31, giving hope to the farm sector in an El Nino year.During Aug-Sept, IMD said certain parts of peninsular India, central India, northern parts of northwest India, and east and northeast India may get “normal to above-normal” rains, but it may not change the forecast of overall ‘below normal’ quantitative rainfall in the country.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMigrant Labourer Killed In Kulgam Terror Attack, Security Forces Launch Massive Search OperationCauvery Row Escalates As TN Farmers Protest, DK Shivakumar Delays Meeting With VijayDelhi Riots Case: Tahir Hussain, Four Others Get Life Term For IB Officer Ankit Sharma’s MurderIndia Signs Rs 4,000 Crore Credit Agreement With Bhutan, Reviews Rs 10,000 Crore Development PackageIndian Navy Receives Indigenous Diving Support Vessel Nipun, Strengthens Deep-Sea Rescue CapabilityCabinet Approves ₹84,084 Crore Samudra Manthan Scheme To Boost Offshore Oil And Gas ExplorationMeta India Head Named In FIR As Posts Criticising PM Modi Surface; Social Accounts Under Scanner’My Father Was Almost Lynched’: Injured Delhi Cop’s Daughter Emotional Appeal After Violence | Watch’Cracks Appeared Hours Before Collapse’ Rescue Teams Search For Survivors In Maharashtra’s BhiwandiCJP’s Saurav Das Says Abusive Remarks Deserve Defamation Cases, Not Criminal Prosecution | Watch123PhotostoriesHe thought it was food poisoning until doctors found a kidney stone: The warning signs that are easy to missWhy Indian royals chose emeralds over diamonds: The fascinating history behind their favourite gemstoneWhat happens when you say ‘thank you’ every day? These 5 spiritual changes may surprise you5 ancient Egyptian rituals that are deeply disturbingBreast cancer often begins without pain: Doctor explains the early warning signs every woman should know and why timely screening can save livesWhy children are more vulnerable to heatwaves than adults: Doctor explains the hidden risks of heat, humidity and dehydrationAs Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana’ revives traditional fashion, meet the woman who gave India the blouse, petticoat and modern Nivi sareeWho is Vinnie Takair? Danish singer spotted with Aryan Khan in London sparks dating rumoursOptical Illusion personality test: What you feel most drawn to first says a lot about who you really are10 baby names inspired by Greek mythology123Hot PicksHurricane IrmaRuchika SinghRRB Group D Admit CardNEET selective edit windowCommonwealth Games LiveUS work permit feeE20 petrol debateAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingSaurav DasBengal JeM Terrorist ArrestedJaisalmer Military Station AccidentCM VijayDehradun Teacher SuicideAnkit Sharma Murder CaseAam Aadmi PartyShraddha Walkar Murder CaseMumbai Building CollapseStock Market Up
NEW DELHI: Average rainfall in India during the second half of monsoon season (Aug-Sept) is most likely to be ‘below normal’, IMD said Friday, flagging the continuing risk of El Niño, which is associated with a weak monsoon.Last month, IMD had cited El Niño’s impact to forecast below normal rains in July. The month’s rainfall turned out to be normal due to plentiful showers in central India. The met department attributed this to “intra-seasonal variability”, saying a record 24 days were under the influence of ‘low pressure systems’ (LPS) in July against normal of about 13.5 days.“Four LPS were formed over Bay of Bengal that led to good rainfall from Odisha to Gujarat. We need to further analyse the reason (for better-than-expected July rains). These LPS couldn’t be captured by our long-range forecast model,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD chief.
July rain gives hope to farm sectorTwo long wet spells, one during the first week of July and the second from July 22 onwards, helped reduce the overall monsoon rainfall deficit in the country from 35% in June to nearly 13% at the end of July. Since the ‘monsoon core zone’, where farming operations remain mainly rain-fed, largely coincides with central India, good rains in the region could aid recovery of acreage in the month.
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Though overall acreage of the summer sown crops continues to be in deficit compared to the corresponding period last year, the deficit reduced from nearly 21% on July 3 to around 3% on July 31, giving hope to the farm sector in an El Nino year.During Aug-Sept, IMD said certain parts of peninsular India, central India, northern parts of northwest India, and east and northeast India may get “normal to above-normal” rains, but it may not change the forecast of overall ‘below normal’ quantitative rainfall in the country.
