Overview
- The India Meteorological Department on Monday said September rainfall is most likely to be below 91% of the long‑period average and that monthly maximum and minimum temperatures will be above normal for most regions.
- August was the warmest since 1901 with a mean temperature of 28.01°C, and cumulative June–August monsoon rainfall is about 13.8% below the long‑period average.
- Several long‑lived low‑pressure systems in August delivered heavy rain mainly to the Indo‑Gangetic Plain while leaving many southern and peninsular areas short of rain.
- Regional shortfalls are acute: Telangana ended August 38% down for the month and about 17% below for June–August, Andhra Pradesh shows roughly a 45% shortfall for June–August, and roughly 47% of districts are classed as deficient or very deficient.
- Officials warn that weaker September rains could cut kharif yields in rainfed areas, stress reservoirs and groundwater, and add upward pressure to food prices while the IMD monitors El Niño persistence and will issue the northeast‑monsoon outlook at the end of September.