Wayanad monsoon crisis: rainfall deficit hits 37% amid El Niño impact
Wayanad district is experiencing a 37% rainfall deficit during the Southwest Monsoon, attributed to global climate change and El Niño. Experts note that shifting precipitation patterns, characterized by intense, short-duration downpours, are failing to replenish groundwater effectively.
Why it matters
The data highlights the tangible impact of climate change on regional agriculture and water security in India.
Global climate change and the lingering effects of the El Niño phenomenon have left the Wayanad district facing a severe rainfall deficit as the Southwest Monsoon completes three months. According to an analysis released by the Kalpetta-based Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, on Sunday (August 31, 2026), the district recorded an average of just 1,391 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 31.
Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates that Wayanad typically receives a seasonal average of 2,200 mm during this period, leaving current figures 37% below normal.
While August brought slightly improved showers compared to the sparse rainfall of June and July, it was insufficient to bridge the overall shortfall.
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