Despite a few good spells of rainfall during the month, India finished August with over 16 percent shortfall in normal rains, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD has forecasted that September will see less than 91 percent of normal rains, marking the last month of the monsoon season. This indicates that India's seasonal rainfall for the entire four-month rainy season, spanning from June to September, is likely to remain well below 90 percent.
Rainfall Statistics
As of August, the seasonal rainfall has been recorded at 84 percent of normal. August is typically the second rainiest month of the season, accounting for 29 percent of the seasonal rainfall, compared to 32 percent in July.
“"With below-normal rainfall expected in September, the season is most likely to remain below 90 percent of the LPA," stated IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra during a press conference on Monday.
At the end of August, nearly half of the country experienced below-normal rains. The IMD reported that out of 741 districts being monitored, 312 districts (or 42 percent) had deficient rains, while another 38 districts (about 5 percent) faced large deficiencies. Only 290 districts, including all in Odisha, received normal rainfall thus far, while 94 districts reported more than normal rainfall.
