The 2026 monsoon is ending with a 12 percent rainfall deficit. That is below normal, but far better than it looked mid-season. What changed?

September brought heavy late rains across many parts of India. These showers filled the gap left by a weak start, pulling the seasonal deficit down to 12 percent as the monsoon began withdrawing from the northwest.

A deficit of 12 percent means the country got 88 percent of its normal monsoon rain. The weather office counts anything between 96 and 104 percent as normal, so 12 percent short is officially below normal.

The late rains helped reservoirs and standing crops. But the uneven spread means some regions still face water stress, and drought-hit areas need more relief.

What next? The monsoon will fully withdraw by mid-October. Attention now shifts to the post-monsoon season and winter rains, which matter for the rabi crop sowing ahead. The 12 percent figure will be part of the season’s final report, the weather office said.