Monsoon likely to be 'near normal' this year says Indian Met department

Monsoon is likely to be "near normal" this year, the India Meteorological Department said Monday. Monsoon is likely to be 96 per cent of the long period average (LPA), a senior official of the IMD said.

LPA is the average of rainfall between 1951 and 2000, which is 89 cm. Anything between 90-95 per cent of LPA falls under the "below normal" category.

(With inputs from agencies.)