What happened: IMD forecast for August and August–September rainfall

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast states that August rainfall is likely to be below normal for India. IMD expects precipitation to be less than 94% of the long-period average (a long-term baseline used to classify rainfall as normal, above normal, or below normal).

IMD also projects below-normal rainfall for the second half of the southwest monsoon season, covering August to September. IMD’s outlook notes that some areas may still receive normal to above-normal rainfall totals even while many regions are expected to be below normal.

IMD’s regional indications (as reported) are:

• Below-normal rainfall is expected in many parts of India, with possible exceptions where normal to above-normal totals are possible in portions of eastern peninsular India, some areas of northwest and central India, and isolated parts of eastern and north-eastern India.

IMD’s temperature expectations (as reported) are: