60 Percent of Normal Average Rainfall Forecast for August

29-Apr-2026 08:46 PM

Mumbai. A private weather agency has forecast that, compared to the normal average level, rainfall in the country during this year's monsoon season is expected to be 60 percent in August and 70 percent in September. However, the agency states that there will be no hindrance to the arrival of the monsoon, and it is likely to reach the country on its scheduled time in June; nevertheless, it may weaken in the subsequent months. Due to the influence of the El Niño weather cycle, there is a possibility of a decline in the intensity, density, and dynamism of the monsoon during the second half of the season.

Active for the four months spanning June to September, the Southwest Monsoon is considered the 'lifeline' (oxygen) of India's agricultural sector. This is because the rainfall received during this period not only directly benefits the Kharif crops but also proves indirectly advantageous for the Rabi crops.

It is precisely due to this rainfall that water stocks in dams and reservoirs are replenished, ensuring the availability of water for crop irrigation.

During the second half of the monsoon season—specifically August-September 2026—a possibility of below-normal average rainfall has been indicated for the country's northwestern, central, and southern states.

This includes major agricultural-producing regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. These very states account for 85–90 percent of the country's total production of Kharif-season pulses, oilseeds, and cotton.