Weak monsoon phase likely to continue over the next few days

NEW DELHI: The weak phase of the monsoon in the country is expected to continue over the next few days, possibly widening the deficit from the current level of 9%. Meteorologists say a new system over the Bay of Bengal that will develop over the next 48 hours could bring more rain.

Typhoon Soudelor, which made landfall over Taiwan and China, weakened the rainfall in India, weather experts said.

As of Sunday, the country as a whole received 5.2 mm of rain during the past 24 hours, 41% below the normal level of 8.9 mm. So far this monsoon season, there has been 489.2 mm of rainfall, which is 9% below normal.

"Rains will remain weak over the country and be restricted to eastern India. A system is now developing in the Bay of Bengal, which will strengthen in the next 48 hours. This will bring rains over Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh," said GP Sharma, VP meteorology, Skymet Weather Services Pvt Ltd. The system will further bring rains over Chhattisgarh, Telangana and parts of Uttar Pradesh.