2015 saw erratic weather conditions

NEW DELHI: Weather conditions were erratic in 2015, with the year recorded as the hottest witnessing a deficient monsoon due to El-Nino effect, drought-like situation in many parts of the country and severe floods in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

"2015 was recorded as the hottest year," India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Laxman Singh Rathore said.

The southwest monsoon hit the Kerala coast a tad late on June 5, four days after the official onset of rainy season in India. June saw 16 per cent excess rain. However, July witnessed a deficiency of 16 per cent.

It further grew to 22 and 24 per cent for August and September respectively. The overall monsoon clocked a 14 per cent deficiency, for a second consecutive year. The blame for weak monsoon was attributed to the El-Nino phenomenon.

The year also saw a competition of sort between IMD and private weather forecasting agency Skymet over monsoon forecast, with the former finally taking away the cake.

The IMD since beginning had made a forecast of deficient monsoon, but Skymet had made a prediction of normal monsoon.

However, the agency revised its earlier prediction and lowered its monsoon forecast from 102 per cent to 98 per cent even as it maintained that the country will receive "normal" rainfall during the year. Despite this the season registered a deficient rainfall.

Incidentally, some regions in the country are facing a drought-like situation - Eastern and Western Uttar Pradesh, which have recorded highest deficiency, and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.