Rainfall in Aug, Sept to be normal, says IMD; more area under kharif crops

Enthused by the initial good rains, farmers across the country have planted kharif crops in almost 14 per cent more area than the last year till July 31

Rainfall in the second half of the southwest monsoon (August-September) season this year is expected to be normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest forecast on Friday.

The meteorological department said that rainfall in August is projected to be within the normal range at 97% of the Long Period Average (LPA). This is with a model error of plus/minus 9 per cent. In August and September, India receives around 43 mm of rainfall.

While rainfall in June was