2 days ago
India's 2026 Monsoon Ends With Decade-Low Rainfall
India's rainy season in 2026 brought less rain than usual.
The country received about 759 millimeters of rain instead of its normal 869 millimeters.
June was especially dry, but July had normal rainfall.
The rain became weaker again in August and September.
Because of this, July's improvement could not fix the season's overall shortage.
The season was India's driest monsoon in about ten years.
El Nino became stronger while the Indian Ocean Dipole stayed neutral.
Some parts of India, especially the east, northeast, and south, received much less rain than normal.
India received 759.4 mm of monsoon rainfall, 87% of its long-period average.
The season was 12.6% below normal and the lowest since 2015.
June rainfall was sharply deficient, while July reached 101% of normal.
Rainfall deficits returned in August and September after July's recovery.
El Nino strengthened during the season, while the Indian Ocean Dipole remained neutral.
- Who
- India and the India Meteorological Department, which reported the rainfall figures.
- What
- The 2026 monsoon ended with rainfall 12.6% below its long-period average, making it India's lowest seasonal monsoon rainfall in a decade.
- Where
- Across India, with particularly low rainfall in east and northeast India and the south peninsula.
- When
- June through September 2026; El Nino strengthened from June through the end of September.
- Why
- Rainfall deficits coincided with strengthening El Nino conditions, while the Indian Ocean Dipole remained neutral.
Key facts
- Total rainfall
- 759.4 mm from June through September
- Long-period average
- 868.6 mm
- Seasonal result
- 87% of the long-period average, or 12.6% below normal
- Historical ranking
- Fourth-lowest monsoon rainfall year since 2001 and 13th lowest since 1901
- Driest period
- Lowest seasonal monsoon rainfall in a decade, since 2015
- Regional low
- East and northeast India received 1,016.3 mm, the lowest since 1901
- Subdivision results
- 17 of 36 subdivisions had deficient rainfall, 18 had normal rainfall, and Odisha had excess rainfall
- Climate conditions
- El Nino strengthened from weak conditions in June to strong intensity by late September; the Indian Ocean Dipole stayed neutral
Sources
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