Southwest monsoon unlikely to retreat from northwest India by September-end

The country will witness an extended monsoon spell this year as rainfall activity over north India shows no signs that it will decline till the end of September, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

It added that overall above normal rainfall activity is likely over northwest, central India, near-normal over south peninsular India and below-normal over east and northeast India.

According to the IMD, the Southwest Monsoon withdrawal from northwest India takes place if there is cessation of rainfall activity over the area for continuous five days.