<p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal rainfall during the June-September southwest monsoon season, signalling much relief, especially to the agriculture sector.</p>.<p>The seasonal rainfall is expected to be 106% of the long-period average, which corresponds to 870 mm.</p>.Many parts of Karnataka reeling under severe hot weather, Kalaburagi records 43.1 degree Celsius.<p>The above-normal monsoon will bring cheer to farmers and policy-makers as 52% of the net cultivated area in the country relies on it. Several parts of the country are already reeling under severe heatwaves, with the water levels in 150 major reservoirs dropping to 33% of their capacity.</p>.<p>The monsoon, which usually arrives over the southern tip of Kerala around June 1 and retreats in mid-September, is expected to total 106% of the long-term average, said M Ravichandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.</p>.<p>Parts of northwest, east and northeast India are expected to receive below-normal rainfall during the season, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the IMD, said during a press conference. </p>.<p>However, models have not given any “clear signal” about monsoon rainfall for several parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, which form the core monsoon zone of the country.</p>.<p>“Moderate El Nino conditions are prevailing at present. It is predicted to turn neutral by the time the monsoon season commences. Thereafter, models suggest La Lina conditions may set in by August-September,” Mohapatra said. Positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions, which are favourable for the Indian monsoon, are predicted during the season. Also, the snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and Eurasia is low. Therefore, all the conditions are conducive, he said.</p>.<p>Highlights - Weather relief Met agency forecasts favourable La Nina conditions Rainfall pegged at 106% of the long-period average 52% of the country's net cultivated area relies on monsoon rain Below-normal rainfall predicted for parts of northwest, east and northeast India No 'clear signal' for Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, UP, MP and West Bengal</p>
<p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal rainfall during the June-September southwest monsoon season, signalling much relief, especially to the agriculture sector.</p>.<p>The seasonal rainfall is expected to be 106% of the long-period average, which corresponds to 870 mm.</p>.Many parts of Karnataka reeling under severe hot weather, Kalaburagi records 43.1 degree Celsius.<p>The above-normal monsoon will bring cheer to farmers and policy-makers as 52% of the net cultivated area in the country relies on it. Several parts of the country are already reeling under severe heatwaves, with the water levels in 150 major reservoirs dropping to 33% of their capacity.</p>.<p>The monsoon, which usually arrives over the southern tip of Kerala around June 1 and retreats in mid-September, is expected to total 106% of the long-term average, said M Ravichandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.</p>.<p>Parts of northwest, east and northeast India are expected to receive below-normal rainfall during the season, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the IMD, said during a press conference. </p>.<p>However, models have not given any “clear signal” about monsoon rainfall for several parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, which form the core monsoon zone of the country.</p>.<p>“Moderate El Nino conditions are prevailing at present. It is predicted to turn neutral by the time the monsoon season commences. Thereafter, models suggest La Lina conditions may set in by August-September,” Mohapatra said. Positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions, which are favourable for the Indian monsoon, are predicted during the season. Also, the snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and Eurasia is low. Therefore, all the conditions are conducive, he said.</p>.<p>Highlights - Weather relief Met agency forecasts favourable La Nina conditions Rainfall pegged at 106% of the long-period average 52% of the country's net cultivated area relies on monsoon rain Below-normal rainfall predicted for parts of northwest, east and northeast India No 'clear signal' for Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, UP, MP and West Bengal</p>
