New Delhi:  India Metrological Department, IMD has upgraded its earlier normal monsoon forecast from 96 per cent to 98 percent of the Long Period Average. Briefing media in New Delhi on Tuesday on the second forecast of Southwest Monsoon rainfall, Director General of IMD, K J Ramesh said, quantitatively, the monsoon rainfall from June to September is likely to be 98 per cent, plus minus four per cent. 

Last year, IMD had forecast that rainfall in June to September would be 106 per cent which is above normal, but the actual rainfall was around 97 per cent.The IMD official said, distribution of rainfall would be good across the country.

Ramesh said, during the four month period, Central India will receive 100  per cent rainfall, Peninsular region 99 per cent while North East and North West region will receive 96 per cent rainfall. India gets 70 per cent of its annual rainfall during the southwest monsoon which irrigates half the country’s farmlands.

He ruled out the strong EL Nino development. "The stronger El-Nino development is ruled out, so in view of the positive scenario for monsoon, we have upgraded all India figure from 96 percent to 98 percent of the long term average. Country is expected to recieve about 96 percent of long term average in the monthe of July and 99 percent in the month of August," Ramesh said.

El Nino is a weather phenomenon caused by unusual warming in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in atmospheric changes, potentially leading to poor monsoon.