Rainfall to decline over central India, increase in the north, says IMD

PUNE: With northward movement of the monsoon trough, a break in rains is expected for a few days in central India and south India, except the extreme southern states. However, the north Indian plans and foothills of Himalaya will get heavy rains.

"The foothills of Himalaya from Jammu and Kashmir to the North Eastern states, including Punjab and Haryana may see heavy to very heavy rainfall for three days starting July 15," said Sunitha Devi, director (weather forecast), IMD, Pune.

However, the rainfall in central India and south India, barring the extreme south is likely to decline during next five days. "With northward shift of the monsoon trough, a secondary rainbelt is formed in the south, called the oceanic belt, which is likely to give heavy rainfall in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh," said Devi.

The IMD expects that the break in rainfall over central India, may not be a very severe or prolonged break. The IMD has already forecast July rains to be above normal.

Monsoon has covered the entire country, two days before its normal date of July 15, declared the India Meteorology Department on Wednesday. The north Indian plains and the Himalayan foothills to experience increase in rainfall, which is likely to decrease in central and south India, except Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The deserts of Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan received some rains on Tuesday, which completed the monsoon's coverage of the entire country. Normally, monsoon covers the country by July 15.