India's Monsoon Season to be a Bumper One: IMD Predicts Above Normal Rains

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): India's fight against inflation might get a boost with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting an "above normal" monsoon in 2025. According to the IMD, the monsoon is expected to be around 105% of the long period average (LPA), which is considered a good sign for the country's agricultural sector.

Key Highlights

 Monsoon Forecast: The IMD predicts an "above normal" monsoon in 2025 with an expected rainfall of 105% of the LPA, which is 87 centimeters for the June to September period.

Consensus Among Weathermen: This forecast aligns with private weather agency Skymet's prediction of a "normal" monsoon at 103% of the LPA.

Factors Contributing to Good Monsoon:

Neutral El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO): Expected to remain neutral during the monsoon season, benefiting Indian rains.

Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): Contributing to a good monsoon.

Below Normal Snow Cover: Lower snow cover in the northern hemisphere during January to March is also a positive factor.

Impact on Agriculture and Economy

 Boost to Kharif Agriculture: A good, well-distributed rain would enhance kharif agriculture production and provide residual soil moisture for the rabi harvest.

 Refilling Reservoirs: The rains would help refill reservoirs, which have been low in recent weeks.

 Last Year's Monsoon Performance: The southwest monsoon closed the 2024 season with 8% surplus rains, the best performance in three years, with cumulative rainfall   estimated at 935 millimeters, 8% more than the normal 870 millimeters.