New Delhi: The June-to-September monsoon has been normal so far, the state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
Since the monsoon season started in June, 89% of the country has received normal to excess rains, while 11% of India has a deficit. Rain-deficit parts mainly include Kerala, Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, Punjab and some of the north-eastern states, IMD said.
North-west and central India have received 8% and 10% more rainfall than the 50-year average while the southern peninsula has recorded a deficit of 8%, the forecaster said. The shortfall in eastern and north-eastern regions is at 16%.
“Kerala and coastal Karnataka will be receiving widespread showers in the coming five days. Gujarat region will also receive rainfall on 20 and 21 August,” said N. Chattopadhyay, deputy director general of the agricultural meteorology division at IMD.
“Barring central and north-east India, the rest of the country is facing subdued to normal rainfall,” said Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet Weather Services Pvt. Ltd. “In the coming days, India will have a deficit of 2-3%,” he added.
Jharkhand and east Uttar Pradesh have experienced heavy rains in the past week.
According to an IMD forecast, there will be an increase in rainfall activity over the peninsular India from the last week of August. Above-normal rainfall activity will occur over many parts of central India till 29 August. North-west India will experience an increase in rainfall activity from 25 August.
The government weather forecaster also issued a red alert for west Madhya Pradesh for Friday.
A deep depression is forming over south-west Bihar, Jharkhand and south Uttar Pradesh, which will gradually weaken in the next 24 hours and move in a west and north-western direction. This will lead to rain in Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh. There will also be rain in western Madhya Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan.
Chattopadhyay further said, “Overall, across the country, the soil moisture is adequate for crops, but for the next five days, Rayalaseema, north interior Karnataka and Telangana will be dry. Farmers are advised to provide irrigation to crops in these regions until the next spell of monsoon.”
The sowing of rain-fed kharif crops has been completed in 95.4 million hectares, or 90% of the normal area planted during the season, according to data released by the agriculture ministry on Friday.