India Experienced Below-Normal Rainfall in June: IMD

India saw less rainfall than usual in June, with an 11% shortfall, the highest in five years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on July 1.

IMD data shows that India received 147.2 mm of rain in June, compared to the normal 165.3 mm, making it the seventh lowest since 2001. June’s rainfall makes up 15% of the total 87 cm of rain expected during the four-month monsoon season.

Northwest India Severely Affected

The monsoon began early in Kerala and the northeastern region on May 30 and moved normally up to Maharashtra. However, it slowed down, delaying rains in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. This delay worsened the heat wave in northwest India.

IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, “The country had 16 days of below-normal rainfall from June 11 to June 27, leading to overall below-normal precipitation.”

The IMD reported that northwest India had a 33% rainfall deficit, central India had a 14% deficit, and east and northeast India had a 13% deficit. Only south India saw a surplus of 14% in June.

The Met Office noted that 12% of the country’s sub-divisional areas had excess to large excess rainfall, 38% had normal rainfall, and 50% had deficient to large deficient rainfall.

IMD data also indicates that in 20 out of the 25 years when June rainfall was below normal (less than 92% of the long-period average), July rainfall was normal (94-106% of LPA) or above normal. Additionally, in 17 of the 25 years with below-normal June rainfall, the seasonal rainfall was normal or above normal.