India to see "normal" monsoon in 2017; 99% of normal monsoon in August: IMD

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said this year rainfall over the country for the period June-September is likely to be Normal with 96% to 104% of long period average (LPA).

In a statement, IMD said, that quantitatively, monsoon season rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be 98% of the LPA with a model error of plus minus 4%. The LPA rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1951-2000 is 89 cm.

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Giving monthly forecast, IMD mentioned that monsoon over the country is  likely to be 96% of its LPA during July and 99% of LPA during August both with a model error of ± 9 %.

"The season rainfall is likely to be 96% of LPA over North-West India, 100% of LPA over Central India, 99% of LPA over South Peninsula, and 96% of LPA over North-East India all with a model error of ± 8 %," IMD said. 

Monsoon predictions are considered to be very vital for Indian economy as agriculture still largely is dependent on the weather phenomenon.

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In the earlier forecast, on April 18, IMD had said that rainfall may  be 96% of the normal with an error margin of 5% on either side. IMD had also said that there are more than 50% chance of El-Nino developing from August.