Monsoon expected to be normal in August-Sept after prolonged dry spell

By Administrator_ India

Capital Sands

Following a prolonged dry spell that broke with heavy rains lashing several parts of the country since mid-July, the performance of the southwest monsoon in the remaining two months of the season is expected to be normal, the India Meteorological Department said today.

This augurs well for the progress of Kharif sowing and output, but some experts said the conditions should be monitored till mid-August before arriving at a final picture because any shortfall in acreage beyond that period will be difficult to compensate.

The met department, meanwhile, said in its mid-season forecast that rainfall in August and September is expected to be normal at 95-105 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a tendency to be on the positive side of the normal.

The LPA of the August to September period rainfall over the country as a whole is 428.3 mm

For the month of August alone, the IMD said that rainfall will also be normal in the entire country at 94-106 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).

The LPA of the August rainfall over the country as a whole is 258.1 mm for the period 1961-2010.

A normal monsoon in August augurs well for the coming Kharif harvest as the break-in rains from mid-June which lead to a drop in acreage has clouded prospects of a bumper final harvest.

July and August are the most critical months of the southwest monsoon season as the country receives maximum rain in these two months.