June setback may not dampen overall monsoon show

Meteorologists remain optimistic as IMD downgrades June rainfall prediction

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

The India Meteorological Department's (IMD's) revised monsoon forecast for June to "below normal" from the previous prediction of "normal" rainfall will not impact the overall performance of this year's monsoon, which is still expected to be "above normal" at almost 106 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), senior meteorologists said on Wednesday.

The response comes a day after the IMD, in a mid-course correction, downgraded its June rainfall prediction for the country to "below normal".

It scaled down its monsoon forecast as the rains, after making a steady run since arriving over the Kerala coast on May 30, virtually stopped in the last few days due to the cessation of cyclonic activities over Southern India. The Eastern arm of the Southwest monsoon also became less active in the last few days, resulting in the widening of the cumulative rainfall deficit to almost 20 per cent across the country as of June 18.