Archive · 1 Jan 2026
Northeast Monsoon Ends with Rainfall Deficit in Tamil Nadu
The northeast monsoon, which brings rain to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, ended with less rain than usual this year.
The region got 42.8 cm of rain, which is 3% less than the normal amount.
October had a lot of rain, but November and December had much less.
Some places got more rain than usual, but many places got less.
The weather experts say this happened because there weren't enough big weather systems to bring rain.
Even though there was less rain, the water in the reservoirs is still enough for people to use.
The northeast monsoon ended with a 3% rainfall deficit in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Total rainfall was 42.8 cm, below the normal average of 44.2 cm.
October had 36% above-normal rainfall, but November and December had significantly less.
Several districts recorded below-normal rainfall, while a few districts had surplus rainfall.
The deficit is attributed to the absence of favourable synoptic systems over the Bay of Bengal.
- Who
- India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- What
- Northeast monsoon rainfall deficit in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
- When
- October-December 2023
- Where
- Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
- Why
- Absence of favourable synoptic systems such as low-pressure areas and cyclonic circulations over the Bay of Bengal during November and December
Rainfall Deficit Concerns
Reservoir Water Sufficiency
Rainfall Amount
Rainfall Deficit Concerns
The northeast monsoon ended with a 3% rainfall deficit in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, totaling 42.8 cm instead of the normal 44.2 cm.
Reservoir Water Sufficiency
Despite the deficit, the water in the reservoirs is still sufficient for people to use.
- Total Rainfall
- 42.8 cm
- Normal Average
- 44.2 cm
- Rainfall Deficit
- 3%
- October Rainfall
- 23 cm (36% above normal)
- November Rainfall
- 15 cm (below normal)
- December Rainfall
- 4.5 cm (below normal)
- Affected Districts
- Chennai, Ariyalur, Chengalpattu, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Kancheepuram, Karur, Krishnagiri, Perambalur, Salem, Theni, Tiruppur, Tiruchirappalli
- Surplus Rainfall Districts
- Virudhunagar, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Tiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi
Sources
IMD confirms northeast monsoon deficit as TN records below normal rainfall this season
Jammu and Kashmir may wake up to heavy rain, snow on New Year day
Zero rain, dense fog: How Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh witnessed one of the driest Decembers in recent decades
New Year weather alert: IMD warns of a foggy start to 2026, cold wave conditions to grip Delhi, Chandigarh, other places
Mixed rainfall forecast for January-March period: IMD