Weather department forecasts 98 % rains of LPA More rains than estimated earlier in April
Good news for farmers. The Meteorological Department has forecast more than expected rains during the South West monsoon this year. In the event of El Nino receding, it is expected to rain 98 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).
K J Ramesh, Director General of Indian Meteorological Department, informed here on Tuesday, that the estimate issued in the month of April was 96 per cent of the LPA, however the receding El Nino has assured 96 per cent LPA in July and 99 per cent in August. In February all weather forecasts had predicted the possibility of El Nino threat, but now it is otherwise, he said.
He also assured that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has also ruled out possibilities of El Nino.
The department has estimated 100 per cent LPA rains in Central India, 99 per cent in south India and in North East and North West, which did not receive expected rains since three years, it will be 96 per cent. In the next couple of days thunder showers are forecast in the north and central India, reducing the soaring temperatures. The agriculture based regions like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the North West should receive rainfall of 96 to 100 per cent LPA which is normal. Anything less is considered shortage. More than 104 per cent LPA will be excessive.
Monsoon has entered Kerala two days in advance. It will cover Goa on June 8 and then proceed to Mumbai, some parts of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand between June 13 and 14, according to the weather office.
Any inversions in monsoon will have serious consequences on the economy of the country, as the agriculture sector in India depends heavily on monsoon. In the national economy of Rs130 lakh crores 15 per cent is attributed to agriculture.
