Rainfall in July so far 26 percent insufficient, says the Indian Ministry of Weather

New Delhi:

Rainfall in July was 26 percent deficient across the country, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told Earth Science Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday.

During his visit to the Indian Meteorological Department, Mr. Singh was also informed by officials that the IMD has 27 radars across the country and that the number will increase to 50 in the coming years.

The minister spent over an hour studying the trends of the southwest monsoon. He also visited exclusive satellite and radar sections and discussed the process of data acquisition in real time.

Mr Singh also received an update on the fluctuations in air quality in Delhi.

“Director General, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told the minister that the monsoon rains in June this year were 10 percent above normal but were 26 percent deficient to date in July,” it said in a statement.

Of the four-month rainy season, July and August bring maximum rainfall over the country.

In its forecast for July, the IMD had predicted normal precipitation. After a monsoon break, the southwest monsoon woke up again on July 8th. Since then there has been heavy rainfall in several parts of the country.

As the analysis of weather forecasts was a complex task, Mr Singh asked the IMD scientists to continue to focus on more accurate forecasts.

He urged officials to step up people-centered services, particularly for the agricultural sector and disaster areas like flash floods, cyclones and downpours, through the use of apps and other of the latest high-tech options.

The minister said that IMD is currently sending more than 42 million text messages to farmers across the country twice a week through the Mkisan Ministry of Agriculture portal.

Mr Mohapatra said India is one of the five countries in the world that has the most advanced lightning forecast system.

The IMD’s Hydromet Services enable flood forecasts in river basins using radar technology. In addition to city-specific forecasts, this service also provides information on flash floods in South Asia.