MONSOON MAY BE BELOW NORMAL: SKYMET WEATHER

NEW DELHI: Skymet, a private weather company, has predicted below normal rainfall this monsoon. Between June and September, which is the monsoon season in India, rainfall is forecast to be at 95% of the long period average of 887 mm. About 70% of India’s rainfall happens in this period and irrigates almost half of India’s farmland, being of particular importance for Kharif crops. There is a 50% chance of an El Nino developing in the second half of the monsoon season, which translates into deficit rainfall in the months of July, August and September.