Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, May 29

India is likely to receive below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall during the June-September season this year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday, while warning of above-normal heatwave days across several states in June.

In its updated long-range forecast, the IMD said monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be around 92 percent of the Long Period Average (LPA), placing it in the below-normal category.

The LPA for the 1971-2020 period is 87 cm.

The weather office said rainfall is likely to remain below normal over most parts of the country, except some areas of northwest and northeast India and parts of peninsular India, where normal to above-normal rainfall is expected.

The IMD said below-normal rainfall could pose challenges for agriculture, drinking water supply, hydropower generation, and ecosystem sustainability, while increasing the risk of drought and heat stress in several regions.

For June, rainfall across the country is also expected to remain below normal.

However, parts of northwest and northeast India, along with several areas of south peninsular India, are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall, according to the forecast.

The department warned that above-normal heatwave days are likely during June over many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. Isolated areas of Maharashtra, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu may also witness more heatwave days than usual.

Rajasthan and Jharkhand, however, are expected to record below-normal heatwave days during the month.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences said both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain above normal over most parts of the country in June.

The IMD said neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions over the equatorial Pacific are gradually transitioning towards El Niño, which is expected to develop during the southwest monsoon season.

Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are likely to continue through the monsoon period.

The weather office advised state governments and district administrations to strengthen preparedness measures for possible heatwave conditions, including ensuring access to safe drinking water, operational cooling shelters, and public health monitoring systems.

It also urged people to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure during peak afternoon hours, and take precautions for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and outdoor workers.

The IMD said it will issue its forecast for July rainfall in the last week of June.