Southwest monsoon ends with 12% deficit
India's 2026 southwest monsoon concluded with a 12.6% rainfall deficit, marking the lowest levels since 2015. The east and northeast regions experienced their driest monsoon season since systematic record-keeping began in 1901.
Why it matters
The significant rainfall deficit impacts agricultural output and water security for a large portion of the Indian population.
India’s 2026 southwest monsoon ended with 759.4 mm of rain, 12.6% below the 868.6 mm normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. At 87% of the Long Period Average (LPA), this is the lowest rainfall recorded during the monsoon season since 2015, which was a tad drier at 758.2 mm.
The east and northeast region, which recorded 1,017.1 mm of rainfall, had its driest monsoon since 1901, or since the IMD started to keep systematic records.
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