The India Meteorological Department (IMD), while forecasting a ‘normal’ southwest monsoon for this year also, revised downwards the definition of what constitutes average rainfall.
At a press briefing on Thursday, the agency said India would get 99% of the long period average (LPA) rainfall — changed from 89 cm to 88 cm in 2018, and in the periodic update in 2022, again revised to 87 cm.
A monsoon is considered “normal” when rainfall falls between 96% and 104% of the LPA.
