India, June 1 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on May 29 that the June-September monsoon season will see "below normal" rainfall this year, a category defined as rainfall below 96% of the Long Period Average (LPA), or the average rainfall recorded during 1971-2020. The direction of the May 29 forecast - the second and final pre-season forecast - was the same as the first pre-season forecast issued on April 13. However, expected rainfall was revised down from 92% of LPA to 90%. How accurate are IMD's pre-season forecasts, and why did it lower its rainfall estimate? Here are three charts that answer these questions.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times....