India will experience 'normal' Monsoon in 2018: IMD

In the forecast released by the IMD, it said in a statement: "Quantitatively, the monsoon seasonal rainfall is likely to be 97% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ± 5%. The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1951-2000 is 89 cm."

Speaking on the possibility of normal monsoon in India this year, the statement further said: "Forecast also suggests maximum probability for normal monsoon rainfall (96-104% of LPA) and low probability for deficient rainfall during the season."

IMD said it will again issue the update in early June, 2018 as a part of the second stage forecast.

"Along with the updated forecast, separate forecasts for the monthly (July and August) rainfall over the country as a whole and seasonal (June-September) rainfall over the four geographical regions of India will also be issued," it said.

Private weather forecaster Skymet Weather on Apr 4 said India is going to experience normal Monsoon in 2018.

The weather forecaster has forecasted that there is 20 percent  chance that India experience above normal monsoon.

It said there is 5 percent chance of excess rain in the country this year.

"Skymet Weather has released its #Monsoon2018 forecast at 100% LPA. Good news for the country, expect normal #Monsoon this year. https://buff.ly/2JdMtAF  #MonsoonInIndia," Skymet Weather tweeted.