India to receive normal Monsoon this year, 96% rainfall likely: IMD

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department on Friday predicted normal rainfall during the monsoon season, adding that there are less chances for it to arrive before June 1.

The weather agency has predicted the monsoon to arrive in Kerala around June 4.

According to the IMD, India as a whole was expected to receive 96 per cent of the normal rainfall. The northwestern part of the country is likely to remain slightly deficient in rains with monsoon bringing in less than 92 per cent of the normal, the IMD said.

“Once the monsoon is stronger established, we are expecting the monsoon to arrive in Kerala around 4th June. Before 1st June, we are not expecting the monsoon to arrive. The monsoon is most likely to be normal this year,” the IMD said.

“There is no cyclone probability in the Arabian sea for next week. If rainfall distribution is almost similar everywhere, then it will be an ideal situation. There won’t be any problem. If we get equal distribution everywhere, there won’t be much impact on agriculture. In northwest India, as of now, below-normal rainfall will be there,” the weather office said.