Mumbai, Aug. 21 -- India Meteorological Department or IMD has stated that moderate El Nino conditions currently prevail over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies remaining above normal across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. These conditions are expected to strengthen further during the Southwest Monsoon season. Forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System (MMCFS) also indicate a continued strengthening of El Nino conditions throughout the remaining period of Southwest Monsoon season. It noted that during week ending 19 August, rainfall was 16% below Long Period Average (LPA) over the country as a whole. It noted that cumulatively from 1 June to 19 August 2026, the country as ...