India's monsoon rainfall ends 13% below normal, fourth-lowest since 2001
India's monsoon rainfall for the June-September period was 13% below the long-term average, marking the fourth-lowest level since 2001. The India Meteorological Department attributed the deficit primarily to the El Niño weather pattern.
Why it matters
Significant monsoon deficits impact agricultural output, food security, and water management policies in India, which relies heavily on seasonal rains.
NEW DELHI: India received 87.4 per cent of its long period average (LPA) rainfall during the June-September southwest monsoon this year, making it the fourth-lowest monsoon rainfall recorded since 2001, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The country received 759.4 mm of rainfall against the normal seasonal average of 868.6 mm, leaving a deficit of about 13 per cent between June 1 and September 30, the IMD said on Wednesday.The season's rainfall was marked by an uneven distribution across different parts of the country, with several regions recording significant deficits despite heavy rain spells towards the end of the monsoon.El Niño weighs on monsoon rainfallA senior IMD official told Reuters that India recorded 12.6 per cent below-average rainfall during the June-September season, with the El Niño weather pattern contributing to weaker precipitation.India is likely to receive below-average rainfall in October, while most parts of the country are expected to record…
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