New Delhi, The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted below normal southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall for the country this year, with a predicted 80 cm of rainfall, which is 92% of the long period average (LPA) of 87 cm.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr M Mohapatra, DGM of the IMD, attributed the below normal rainfall to the emergence of El Niño conditions, which cause less rainfall in the country.
Climate models indicate that El Niño conditions are likely to emerge around June, but the IMD also expects positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions to develop during the second half of the monsoon season, which can counter the impact of El Niño.
Dr Mohapatra also highlighted that the northern hemisphere snow cover area during the last three months was slightly below normal, which has an inverse relationship with the subsequent southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall over the country.
