India’s 87% monsoon: what it means, explained
India’s 2026 southwest monsoon delivered about 87 per cent of normal rainfall, making it a below-normal season. But what does that number actually mean for the country?
The four-month season from June to September recorded 759.4 mm of rain, the 13th lowest since records began in 1901. The shortfall was concentrated in June, August and September. Central India did best at 97 per cent of normal, while the southern peninsula got 76 per cent and the northeast 74 per cent.
The northeast had its driest monsoon in 125 years, with just 1,017.1 mm. Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh recorded deficient rain in all four months, raising concerns for paddy crops and winter water supplies.
A weak monsoon can push up food prices and strain reservoirs ahead of the rabi sowing season. The IMD expects below-normal rain in October too, but forecasts normal rainfall for the southern peninsula from October to December.
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Khabar 24h Editorial Desk — our explainers are prepared by the Khabar 24h editorial team using AI-assisted research tools, and every piece is reviewed by a human editor before publishing. We do not claim original reporting: our work is turning complex topics into simple, accurate summaries. Spotted an error? Write to contact@khabar24h.com — our corrections policy aims for same-day review.
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