Monsoon forecast cut to 90 per cent, IMD warns of below-normal rainfall
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that India is likely to receive below-normal rainfall during the 2026 monsoon season. Overall rainfall between June and September is expected to be around 90 per cent of the usual average, with a possible variation of 4 per cent. This is lower than the earlier estimate of 92 per cent issued in April and is also the lowest pre-monsoon forecast released by the IMD in recent years. According to the weather department, there is a 60 per cent probability that rainfall this year will fall in the “deficient” category, which refers to rainfall below 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA). The IMD, however, clarified that it does not officially declare drought conditions and only classifies rainfall levels. Monsoon arrival likely delayed The monsoon, which was earlier expected to arrive in Kerala and southern regions on May 26, is now likely to reach the state during the first week of June. Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Ravichandran said, “The monsoon has arrived on India’s southern …
