Monsoon to be below normal in Aug-Sep: IMD

India's seasonal monsoon will be 'below normal' in August and September and could affect farm output in parts of the country, weather scientists said.

"Quantitatively, rainfall for the country as a whole during the period August to September is likely to be 90% of Long Period Average (LPA)," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today in its outlook for the second half of the monsoon session.

The annual rain season began on a good note with June receiving 111% falls, followed by a slump in July which witnessed 86% rains.

While the weather office sees 46% probability of below normal (86-94% of LPA) rainfall in the next two months, the probability of deficient rains (less than 85% of LPA) is 27%.

The country has received 95% rainfall of the LPA in June-July.

Weather scientists said that the model error of 8% for August-September forecast would mean that some areas may get 98% rain while it may be 82% in other places.

There are chances of farm productivity being affected in regions getting less rainfall, they said.

Earlier this year, the IMD had issued regional monsoon forecasts -- 3% below normal in northwest India, 5% below normal in central India and 6% below normal in the southern peninsular region.

However, the IMD said, the seasonal rainfall over northeast India is likely to be less than 87% of the long period average.