Archive · 31 Aug 2026
India’s Hottest August Since 1901, September Rainfall Forecast Below Normal
India had its hottest August since records began in 1901.
The average temperature was 28.01°C, higher than the usual 27.34°C.
Nights were also unusually warm.
August received 213.3 millimetres of rain, which was below average.
The weather office expects September to receive less than 91% of its usual rainfall.
September’s average highest temperatures may also be warmer than normal.
Strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean were identified as one reason for the unusual weather.
Rain from four weather systems mostly fell over the Indo-Gangetic plains, leaving other parts of India drier.
India recorded its hottest August since 1901 in 2026, with a mean temperature of 28.01°C.
August’s average minimum temperature also reached a record 24.36°C, above the normal 23.68°C.
India received 213.3 mm of August rainfall, 16% below average and the seventh-lowest total since 2001.
The IMD forecasts September rainfall below 91% of the long-period average of 167.9 mm.
Strong El Niño conditions and rainfall concentrated over the Indo-Gangetic plains contributed to rainfall deficits elsewhere.
- Who
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and its Director General of Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
- What
- India recorded its hottest August since 1901, while September is forecast to have below-normal rainfall and above-normal average maximum temperatures.
- When
- The forecast was issued on Monday, August 31, 2026; the temperature and rainfall figures concern August 2026, with the outlook covering September.
- Where
- Across India, with August rainfall from low-pressure systems largely concentrated over the Indo-Gangetic plains.
- Why
- The IMD cited strong El Niño conditions and the limited geographic spread of rainfall systems as factors behind the rainfall deficit.
- August mean temperature
- 28.01°C, the highest August mean temperature in India since 1901
- Normal August mean temperature
- 27.34°C
- August average minimum temperature
- 24.36°C, compared with the normal 23.68°C
- August rainfall
- 213.3 mm, 16% below average and the seventh-lowest total since 2001
- September rainfall forecast
- Below 91% of the long-period average
- September rainfall benchmark
- 167.9 mm, based on 1971–2020 data
- August low-pressure systems
- Four systems collectively persisted for 26 days, with rainfall mainly concentrated over the Indo-Gangetic plains
