IMD predicts normal monsoon this year

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Monday forecast that the monsoon this year will be normal, with rainfall of 97 per cent of the long period average (LPA) with an error of plus or minus five per cent. 

If the forecast comes true, it will augur well for the country’s economy, as it will be the third successive normal monsoon year. The country had recorded a rainfall of 97 per cent in 2016 and 98 per cent last year during the season, which runs from June to September. 

The LPA for the season is calculated on the basis of the mean rainfall during the four-month monsoon season over a 50-year period from 1951-2010. It comes to an average 89 cm for the country as a whole. 

Announcing the forecast, IMD Director General KJ Ramesh said the forecast was based on both statistical ensemble forecasting system and a dynamic global climate forecasting system. The dynamic model has forecast a rainfall of 99 per cent plus or minus a model error of five per cent, while the statistical model forecast is 97 per cent plus or minus model error of five per cent. 

IMD would come out with an update in early June. At that point of time, apart from an updated forecast for the country as a whole and the season in its entirety, the department would issue separate forecasts for rainfall for the months of July and August for the country as a whole and season-wide rainfall for the four distinct geographical areas – north-west India, south peninsula, north-east India and Central India. 

Ramesh also announced category-wise forecast in terms of probabilities for normal (96-104 per cent), above normal (104-110 per cent), excess (more than 110 per cent), below normal (90-96 per cent) and deficient (less than 90 per cent) rainfall. 

There was a probability of 42 per cent for a normal rainfall, followed by 12 per cent for above normal, 30 per cent for below normal, two percent for excess and 14 per cent for deficient rainfall. “There is thus maximum probability of normal rainfall and low probability for deficient rainfall,” he said. 

Referring to various global and regional factors that influence Indian monsoon, he said, the El Nino-La Nina factor is expected to be normal this year. A moderate La Nina condition had developed in the equatorial Pacific during last year. It, however, started weakening in the early parts of this year and has currently turned into a weak La Nina condition. The latest forecasts from Indian and global models indicate that in it will go away before the beginning of the season.

As regards Indian Ocean Dipole phenomenon, which is the other important factor, he said, at present neutral IOD conditions are prevailing and recent forecasts indicate that a weak negative IOD conditions may develop during the middle of the monsoon season and this has been factored into the overall forecast. IMD would continuously monitor the situation”, he added.

Sunderarajan Padmanabhan (@ndpsr)