The monsoon, which typically runs from June to September, is considered normal when total rainfall is between 96% and 104% of the national average of just over 88cm.
The excess rainfall is likely to damage crops such as soybean, onion, urad and moong in major production states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
The rainfall, decrease in temperatures and cooling of the atmosphere coupled with progression towards winter may environmentally favour the spread of the virus.
A good monsoon assumes greater significance this year as millions have lost livelihoods because of the stringent lockdown imposed to stem the coronavirus.
The June-September rains is critical to Indian agriculture as it not only waters some fields directly, but also fills reservoirs that help irrigate winter-sown crops.
Lack of infrastructure, complex nature of weather, and poor coordination make forecasting weather a tough proposition, not only in India but across the world.
Mumbai's civic administration declared a holiday on Tuesday as it recorded the second-heaviest rainfall in the past 24 hours, leading to delays in trains and flights.
The El Nino weather pattern will likely impact India's June-September monsoon, which constitutes more than 70% of the annual rainfall, Skymet Weather Services has forecast.
Our brand of socialism did not result in transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor but only from the honest rich to the dishonest rich, lawyer-jurist Nani A Palkhivala said in 1991.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
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