Indian weather department predicts normal monsoon rains despite El Nino

New Delhi, May 26 (EFE).- India is expected to receive a normal amount of monsoon rains in the coming months despite the possible appearance of the “El Nino” weather phenomenon, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.

The seasonal rains, which cover almost the entire country between June and September, will remain in the normal range for this season at around 96 percent of the long-term average, IMD said in a statement.

According to the department, the arrival of the monsoon in June would not be affected by adverse phenomenon like the El Nino, especially over the central parts of the country, where most of the agricultural and livestock activities are carried out.

However, it added that there was a high probability of “the development of El Nino conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and positive IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole) conditions over the Indian Ocean during the upcoming monsoon season.”

India witnessed its warmest April in 122 years this year according to the IMD, as part of an extended heatwave that affected large parts of the country.

This was followed by an unusually wet May, when out-of-season rainstorms and hail hit several areas and delayed the peak of summer.

Long periods of drought and unexpected rains could affect the Indian population, especially those who depend on agriculture, as production still largely depends on the quantity and timeline of monsoon rains that follow the summer.

Extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves also directly affect people’s health, and according to a study released in 2021 by Indian meteorologists, more than 17,000 people were killed in the country over the last 50 years due to periods of extreme heat. EFE

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