The southwest monsoon’s overall rainfall prediction for 2015 is 93 per cent, three percentage points below normal. Further the probability of deficit rainfall is higher at 33 per cent over normal rainfall pegged at 28 per cent, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan said here on Wednesday, releasing the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s annual monsoon forecast.

Mr. Vardhan said though it was early to predict a drought, and the data on regional distribution of rainfall will be only available by June, he was keeping State governments and relevant ministries informed .

The report also notes that El Nino conditions are likely to persist during the south-west monsoon. The IMD is monitoring sea surface conditions over the Pacific and Indian Oceans .