Hyderabad: The state will receive rainfall slightly less rainfall than normal during the forthcoming monsoon. The Indian Meteo-rological Department has predicted that the state will get 732 mm between June and September, which is 97 per cent of the long period average (LPA) of 755 mm.
Agriculture secretary C. Parthasarathi said during the 15 years, when the rainfall was either normal or above normal, in 13 years, the agri output was positive and during this period the annual average increase in production was 5.3 per cent.
The first long-range forecast in April had predicted normal monsoon for the state. The monsoon is likely to reach the state between June 5 and 8. “The below normal monsoon is because of the weak El Nino conditions and weak Indian Ocean dipole.
The global climate models had identified La Nina conditions that developed in the equatorial Pacific in later part of 2017, but the conditions turned weak early 2018 and are currently neutral,” the IMD said.
The La Nina conditions will continue to be neutral during most part of the monsoon and turn to weak El Nino conditions after the season, the IMD said.
Other states are likely to get normal monsoon this year, except the east and northeast which will witness below normal rainfall.
The monthly rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 101 per cent of its LPA during July, and 94 per cent during August — both with a model error of plus or minus 9 per cent.
On the progress of the monsoon, the IMD said the conditions were favourable for its advance into some parts of northeastern states in the next 48 hours. It said conditions were likely to become favourable for the monsoon to cover some more parts of the peninsula by June 3. The IMD forecast a development of favourable circulation leading to increase in rainfall over interior Tamil Nadu, AP and TS.
