After June witnessed 35 per cent deficient rain and July 1 per cent surplus, August received 16 per cent below normal rainfall. The country as a whole received 603.7 mm rainfall in the first three months of the 2026 monsoon season, which is 14 per cent lower than its long period average (LPA) of 700.7 mm.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), 17 meteorological subdivisions are deficient and 18 have received normal rainfall, whereas Odisha is the only State that had excess rainfall at 26 per cent above normal during June-August. A key reason for the below-normal rainfall in August was moderate to strong El Nino conditions prevailing over the equatorial Pacific.
Moreover, although four low-pressure systems, which contribute 30 per cent to overall rainfall, formed during August and collectively persisted for 26 days, rainfall activity remained largely confined to the Indo-Gangetic plains, leaving other parts in rainfall deficit, said IMD.
