Pune, 1st August 2026: The monsoon outlook of India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast below-normal rainfall across the country during the remaining season of August and September, with total rainfall expected to remain below 94% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
However, Vidarbha and Marathwada are expected to receive above-average rainfall during August, offering relief to regions that witnessed a weak start to the season.
IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the strong rainfall in July helped recover much of the rainfall deficit created in June.
He explained that four low-pressure systems formed over the Bay of Bengal in July, two of which intensified significantly. These weather systems kept monsoon activity active for 24 days, resulting in July recording 101% of its normal rainfall across the country.
Although June ended with a rainfall deficit of 35.4%, the improved conditions in July reduced the overall seasonal shortfall. Between June 1 and July 31, the country recorded rainfall that was 12.6% below normal.
Dr. Mohapatra said that a moderate El Niño is currently active over the Pacific Ocean and is expected to strengthen further by the end of the year.
At the same time, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is presently in a neutral phase but is likely to turn positive during the second half of the monsoon. A positive IOD is expected to offset some of El Niño's negative influence, which could help sustain rainfall activity during the remaining monsoon months.
Thanks to widespread rainfall in July, Maharashtra recorded 106% of its normal rainfall between June 1 and July 31.
During July alone, the state received 40% more rainfall than the monthly average. Konkan recorded 2% above-normal rainfall, while Central Maharashtra received 20% more rainfall than usual. Marathwada remained 8% below normal, while Vidarbha recorded 1% below-normal rainfall, though both regions witnessed significant improvement due to widespread showers in late July.
Only five districts, Hingoli, Beed, Solapur, Nandurbar and Sindhudurg, continue to report deficient rainfall, while all other districts in Maharashtra have received either normal or above-normal rainfall.
Despite improved rainfall across Maharashtra and central India, several parts of North, East, Northeast and South India continue to experience rainfall deficiency.
Around 360 districts across states including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and Kerala are still awaiting adequate monsoon rainfall.
