Maha Likely to Witness 'Above-Normal' Rainfall

The forecast has been issued for the entire monsoon, which is 120 days, and hence, the rainfall intensity may change as per the variability in weather conditions. SD SANAP, senior meteorologist, IMD Pune

- Gayatri Vajpeyee

PUNE: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday released its long-range forecast for the Southwest Monsoon season (June to September), indicating that most parts of Maharashtra are likely to experience above-normal rainfall, with high chances of excess rainfall in Marathwada and southern Maharashtra.

The IMD also released a color-coded forecast map indicating expected rainfall categories across the country. As per this map, most areas in Maharashtra are marked in light blue, indicating above-normal rainfall. Marathwada, parts of southern Maharashtra, and Vidarbha are shown in dark blue, reflecting a high probability of excess rainfall during the monsoon.

Since 2003, the IMD has been issuing operational long-range forecasts (LRF) for the Southwest Monsoon rainfall averaged over the country in two stages—the first in April and an updated forecast at the end of May. In a press conference held in Delhi, M Ravichandran, secretary, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Dr M Mohapatra, director general of Meteorology, IMD, announced the first forecast for the upcoming monsoon season.