Telangana ends 2026 Southwest Monsoon with 17% deficient rainfall, 38% lower than 2025
Telangana recorded a 17% rainfall deficit during the 2026 Southwest Monsoon, significantly lower than the previous year's performance. The shortfall is attributed to evolving El Nino conditions affecting regional moisture patterns.
Why it matters
The data highlights the impact of climate variability on regional agriculture and water security in India.
The 2026 Southwest Monsoon concluded in Telangana with a 17% rainfall deficit, with the State receiving 615.5 mm of rainfall between June and September against the seasonal normal of 740.6 mm.
According to data released by the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS), the State’s rainfall was also substantially lower than the last year. Telangana received 988.3 mm during the 2025 Southwest Monsoon, making the 2026 rainfall 38% lower than the previous year.
The poor performance in this monsoon unfolded against the backdrop of an evolving El Nino — which is a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that alters global atmospheric circulation and can weaken the conditions that bring moisture-laden winds to India, increasing the likelihood of deficient monsoon rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its forecasts issued ahead of the monsoon, had said that El Nino conditions were likely to develop during the Southwest Monsoon.
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