Another private firm echoes Skymet view on below-average monsoon

Says south-west monsoon could be slightly below long period average of 887 mm

A day after private weather forecasting agency Skymet predicted a below normal monsoon for 2017, another private company, Weather Risk Management Services (WRMS) said that as per its March-end reading, the south-west monsoon this year is expected to be close to the long period average, though slightly on the negative side.

If inferred correctly this would mean that monsoon in 2017 as per WRMS could be lower than the long period average of 887 millimetres. The agency would come up with further forecast later during the year.

It said that the evolution of ENSO from a cool phase to warm phase (El Nino) is likely to have a moderately negative impact on the south-west monsoon precipitation over different regions of the country.

Monday, Skymet said that monsoon 2017 is likely to 'below normal' across the country at 95 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).

The state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) is expected to come out with its first official forecast of 2017 south-west monsoon next month.

Skymet said that the south-west monsoon could make a strong start in June, but could dwindle thereafter as El Nino starts making its impact.

Founded in 2004, Weather Risk Management Services Pvt Ltd provides comprehensive climate change related risk management services, including weather forecasts in 15 countries across the globe.