India received above normal rain in first month of monsoon: IMD

In the first month since their arrival the monsoon has brought above normal rainfall to India, according to IMD data.

About a month after its arrival into India, monsoon rains have put on a promising show, with the national cumulated rainfall between June 1 and July 2 being 6% above the long period average. The country received 190.7 mm of rain, as against the normal of 180.7 mm, India Meteorological Department data, showed.

In the first four weeks of their arrival monsoons have brought above normal rainfall to the country, according to IMD data. (PTI File photo)

The monsoon progresses in waves over the Indian subcontinent and arrived in Delhi and north India last week.

Not all of the IMD’s 36 regional divisions have received normal rain, with excess rains drenching almost all of the north east. The deluge has caused flooding in many parts of the region and stranded over 2.75 lakh people in Assam alone.

North India has also been blessed with bountiful rain with Jammu and Kashmir receiving three weeks of heavier than normal rainfall. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have had a good run with no deficiency reported so far. However in central India, Jharkhand and Bihar have accumulated a deficit of 20-59%.

This might change in coming days. “Over East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, rainfall activity is likely to increase,” Mohapatra at the IMD said.

Only 6 out of 36 sub divisions of the country covering 15% of area in India are currently running a deficit of rainfall between June 1 and July 2. Overall, 15 subdivisions that cover 40 % of the country’s area have received normal rainfall and 45 % of the country has received excess rainfall.

In its updated forecast IMD had predicted normal rains for the entire season running from June to September which means the rainfall is expected to be 96% to 104% of the long period average. “There are still three months to go in the monsoon season and most of the rainfall activity is concentrated in July and August, so these are early days,” Mohapatra said cautioning against being overoptimistic.