Southwest Monsoon has covered the entire country six days before the normal date, as parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat received their first seasonal rains on Friday.
The Monsoon had set over Kerala on May 29, three days ahead of the normal date of June 1.
"Southwest monsoon has covered the entire country on Saturday, six days before the normal date of July 8," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.
Parts of western Rajasthan and north Gujarat, which were yet to receive monsoon rains, received their first showers on Friday.
However, the country has recorded a rainfall deficit of five per cent as on Saturday.
According to the IMD, all states falling in the monsoon core zone, barring Rajasthan, have received deficient rains till now. The monsoon core zone comprises the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha which are rain-fed agricultural regions.
Gujarat has received 37 per cent deficient rains than the long period average (LPA) till July 2, followed by Odisha (-34 per cent), Maharashtra (-25 per cent), Chhattisgarh (-25 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (-15 per cent). Rajasthan has received 33 per cent excess rains than the LPA.
According to the forecast for July issued by the IMD, the rainfall average for the country as a whole is most likely to be normal at 94 per cent to 106 per cent of the LPA for the month. The LPA for July, based on the rainfall data from 1971-2020, is about 280.4 mm.
The weather office has forecast enhanced rainfall activity over Odisha, Gujarat, Konkan, and Goa during the next five days, over central India on July 4 and 5, and over northwest India on July 5 and 6.
A cyclonic circulation has formed over Bangladesh and there were also signs of formation of a low pressure area over north Odisha, which could help boost monsoon rains in the region and parts of central India.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Red Alert Issued For Heavy Rainfall In Kerala Districts Weather Body Forecasts Milder Winter, Fewer Coldwave Days Ahead Cyclone Likely To Hit Tamil Nadu Today, Heavy Rain Lashes Several Parts Video: Rahul Gandhi Approaches BJP MP Who Fell During Protest, This Happens People Seeking Justice For Atul Subhash Chase Rahul Gandhi. He Does This Bengaluru Techie Says She's Happier After Shifting to London, Post Is Viral Delhi Restaurant Worker Fights With Colleague, Kills Him With Dumbbell Pakistan Tries To Arm-Twist China Over Gwadar Port. The Plan Backfires. Brother Missing After Mumbai Boat Tragedy, Man Makes Rounds Of Hospitals Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.