The monsoon in August has trodden most outlooks, including the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) viewpoint of 96% rain for the month. Rainfall in the month has been registered at 99.6% of normal rainfall (till August 29). A total of 550.7 mm rainfall has been received from the beginning of the season till August 28, 2012. Out of this, 273 mm rainfall has been received in August alone
The northern states, which were under a wobbling 34% rain deficit till July end, have received 115% rains this month. The overall monsoon deficit now stands at 12%, very much better than 19% when the month began. As the outlook for September remains hesitant, the ample rains in August have improved the prospects of the kharif crop to some extent.
A senior meteorologist mentioned that in comparisons to July when typhoons in the west pacific region had slowed down the monsoon. The update made on August 2, IMD predicted deficit monsoon this year, with overall rainfall at less than 90% of normal. D Sivananda Pai, IMD's lead monsoon forecaster told that they do not see any reason to change their forecast and there are signs that El Nino would affect the monsoon in September.