IMD retains its average monsoon rains forecast

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The India Meteorological Department retained its monsoon forecast at 97 percent of a long-term average on Wednesday.

IMD defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96 percent and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 89 cm for the entire four-month season beginning June.

The monthly rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 101 percent of a long-term average during July and 94 percent of long-term average during August.

(Reporting by Neha Dasgupta, editing by David Evans)