Normal Monsoon Expected This Year, Says Government

India will witness normal weather pattern during the monsoon season this year, the centre said today.

"Normal to below-normal rainfall likely over parts of northwest India, west, central and northeast regions during southwest monsoon," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The government's forecast comes a day after Skymet, a private weather agency, predicted below-normal monsoon rain this year due to the end of La Nina conditions and the potential for El Nino to take hold.

The weather office, however, today said that there is no "one-to-one" relation between El Nino and Monsoon rain in India. "All El Nino years are not bad monsoon years," the IMD said. 

With the possible development of El Nino condition towards July, it may impact Monsoon during second half of the season, said the weather office.

El Nino refers to warming of the waters in the Pacific Ocean near South America. It is associated with weakening of monsoon winds in India.

Earlier this month, the weather department had said that several parts of country, barring parts of northwest and peninsular region, are expected to experience above-normal maximum temperatures from April to June.

India logged its hottest February in 2023 since record-keeping began in 1901, according to the IMD. However, above-normal rainfall due to seven western disturbances, including five strong ones, kept temperatures in check in March.