The monsoon is likely to be better than earlier expected, according to the Met department which revised its initial forecast on Tuesday, upgrading it marginally. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General, K J Ramesh, said the revision to 98 per cent precipitation of the Long Period Average (LPA), was done because of reduced chances of occurrence of an El-Nino, a phenomenon associated with the heating of the Pacific waters.

In its initial forecast released in April, the IMD said the country could receive rainfall 96 per cent of the LPA. "We are expecting a good rainfall across the country this year. July is likely to receive 96 per cent of the LPA while August is expected to witness precipitation of 99 per cent of the LPA," Ramesh said.