Monsoon Revival Offers India Relief, But El Nino Threat Looms Ahead

Over the past couple of months, there has been a lot of chatter around the monsoon. Even before India received its first spell, there was immense concern about rainfall levels potentially falling short owing to atmospheric conditions. For those tracking rainfall levels, August 2026 came as a sweet surprise, ushering in heavy rainfall within its first week. In fact, the national capital breached records and crossed August's average monthly rainfall in just the first eight days of the month. The accumulation left the city inundated with waterlogging, traffic jams, and blocked roads. The rainfall, according to the IMD, was historic, marking the wettest first week of August since 2011. With red alerts issued for the national capital and neighbouring areas, rainfall lashed across more than 12 states, dampening deficit concerns and reviving hopes of abundant rainfall.