India Meteorological Department foresees normal rains for August, September

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday forecast normal rains across the country for the second half (August and September) of the 2013 southwest monsoon season. It expects rainfall to be at 94-106% of long-period average (LPA).

Rainfall in June and July, the first two months of the season, has been 17% above normal, slowing down from a 32% surplus at the end of June.

"In the past 100 years, it has been 28 times that we have got above normal rains in June-July. Barring two times, the rest of the years have received normal monsoon in the season. Hence, we are optimistic of a normal monsoon this season," said Laxman Singh Rathore, director general, IMD.

Rainfall for the country as a whole during the period August to September is likely to be 96% of the average with a model error of 8% said IMD on Thursday. Rainfall during August is likely to be normal at 96% of the average as was forecasted in June.

Rathore said Bihar and Jharkhand, which have received below-normal rains by over 20%, were unlikely to receive rains in the coming week. A similar situation is likely to prevail in the eastern states of the country. "We expect a break in August," said Rathore.

According to meteorologists, a break in monsoon ensures good rains in the eastern part of the country. The break is required to ensure progress in sowing and crop growth.