The good news is that the current vigorous phase of the monsoon will continue, with favorable weather systems developing in different parts of the country.  The shortfall in monsoon rainfall since June 1 has shrunk from 35% at the end of June to 11% on Tuesday. Rainfall surged in the first 11 days of this month and again in the past week with a lean patch in between. But on the whole, rainfall has been about 3% above normal, well in excess of the initial forecast of being 5% lower than average. So far, more than two-thirds of the country has received normal or excess rains.