The monsoon rainfall in India in August 2023 was the lowest since 1901, with an all-India average of 191.2 mm, Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said while addressing a media briefing on August 31.
India saw the driest August since 1901 when the country began keeping weather records, but the monsoon is expected to make a recovery from the first week of September, said the weather office.
This was 25% below the normal rainfall of 241 mm. The rainfall was particularly low in Central India and South Peninsular India, where it was the lowest since 1901.
The average maximum and mean temperatures over the country were also the highest since 1901.
The monsoon season in India runs from June to September. The IMD has forecast that the rainfall in September 2023 is likely to be normal, ranging between 91 and 109% of the long-term average.
However, Mohapatra said even if the rainfall in September was to remain on the higher side, the June-September seasonal rainfall average is expected to be below normal for the season.
