Monsoon will be normal this year and most parts of the country are expected to receive good rains in July-August. However, met office has marginally downgraded its earlier forecast. According to the India Meterological Department's update released today, monsoon season rainfall for the country as a whole will be 96 per cent of the long period average, LPA.

In April, met office said the the country would receive 99 per cent rains. Rains in July this year are likely to be 98 per cent, while the rainfall in August is forecast to be 96 per cent. The Northwest region, including Punjab and Haryana, considered to be India's granary states, are expected to receive below normal rains at 93 per cent.

However, there will be normal south west monsoon during the four month season from June to September this year. A normal monsoon means rainfall between 96 to 104 per cent of a 50-year average rains during the four-month season.

Monsoon rain arrived four days late over Kerala on 5th of this month and it is yet to pick up steam due to a string of atmospheric storms in the south-east Asian region which had affected the monsoon current.