The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said India received 87.4 per cent of its long-period average (LPA) rainfall during the southwest monsoon season from June to September, recording a rainfall deficit of about 13 per cent between June 1 and September 30. The deficit came amid El Nino conditions over the tropical Pacific, which emerged in June and strengthened through the season.
The IMD said against the normal monsoon rainfall of 868.6 mm, India received 759.4 mm rainfall this year, making it the fourth-lowest monsoon rainfall since 2001. The LPA refers to the average rainfall recorded over a specific region during a particular period, such as a month or season, over a long-term reference period - typically 30 to 50 years.
The IMD also forecast below-normal rainfall for October, with the country expected to receive around 85 per cent of its LPA rainfall for the month. Most parts of India are likely to receive below-normal rainfall during the October-December period, indicating that the rainfall deficit could persist beyond the southwest monsoon season.
