South-west monsoon to be deficient by 15% this year : IMD
03 Aug 2012
The south-west monsoon would be deficient by about 15 per cent this year, the India Metrological Department (IMD) said today.
Total rainfall for the June to September period would likely be below normal at 85 per cent of the long period average (LPA), according to LS Rathore, director general, IMD.
LPA, which is the average of 50-year rainfall had been pegged at 89 centimetres.
Rainfall deficit in the first two months of the four-month monsoon season was at 19 per cent, while shortfall for the remaining August and September has been pegged at around 10 per cent.
He added, the likely emergence of the El Nino weather pattern was expected to result in deficient rains.
The overall shortfall of the season would therefore around 15 per cent.