Monsoon spreading rapidly over India, but worry areas remain

The monsoon rains are spreading rapidly across most of India and should intensify over the next month, the India Meteorological Department said today.

The forecast should bring cheer to the Narendra Modi government, though IMD forecasts can be notoriously vague and never area-specific. The weather bureau's latest 'rain map' shows deficient rain in the grain basin of Punjab.

Weather officials have said that the momentum picked up by southwest monsoon in July is likely to continue in August, with 'normal' rain expected next month.

While July is likely to receive rainfall of 93 per cent of the long period average (LPA), rainfall of 96 per cent of the LPA is expected in August, according to a senior official.

He however added that the met department would ''also have to see the rainfall in the next few days of the month''.

The arrival of the monsoon was delayed by a week of more, but it has picked up in July.

''The rainfall looks good for the next three weeks till 15 August. There is a depression which will bring good rainfall,'' an IMD official said.

He however cautioned that rainfall may continue to be deficient in northwest India, including parts of Kutch and Saurashtra regions of  Gujarat.