Seasonal rain deficit for the country as a whole has improved by a single percentage point on Thursday after getting stuck at 22 per cent for quite some time.

Gains over central India and parts of northwest India during the past few days helped, updated India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed.

MORE TO COME

Central India will join adjoining peninsular to share the spoils of the ongoing spell during the weekend and into the next.

Forecasts for the first week of August indicate better rains peninsular India (except the southern parts).

The west coast and east India are likely to be the major gainers; peninsular India may also receive some precipitation in the bargain.

But there is no indication that northwest India will, except south and southwestern parts of Gujarat.

>vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in