Met office says rains in North India likely to be below normal in 2013

The weather department predicted that rainfall intensity might go down in August

India's northwestern parts of the country, that include the main grain producing regions of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh might receive below normal rains in 2013, the India Meteorological Department said today.

Releasing the second stage forecast for 2013 southwest monsoon, the met department said that cumulative rainfall across the country in August is expected to less than that in July at 96 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).  In Nothwest India, rainfall in 2013 is expected to equivalent to 94 per cent of LPA, which is below normal.

LPA is average rainfall across the country in the last 50 years. The southwest monsoon so far has made steady progress after entering the country on June 1. Overall, during the four-month southwest monsoon season that starts from June, IMD has reiterated that rains would be normal at 98 per cent of LPA. EoM