South India Faces 27% Monsoon Rainfall Deficit Amid National Shortfall
South India Faces 27% Monsoon Rainfall Deficit Amid National Shortfall
IN · Published Sep 10, 2026
India's monsoon rainfall has been 14% below the Long Period Average (LPA) from 1 June to 7 September 2026, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). However, the southern peninsula has experienced a significantly higher deficit of 27%, the steepest regional shortfall in the country this season. The IMD has also reported that August recorded only 213.3 mm of rainfall nationally, marking it as the seventh driest August since
The delayed onset of the southwest monsoon, which reached Kerala on 4 June and covered the entire country by 9 July, contributed to the uneven rainfall distribution. While some regions, such as East and East Central India, may see normal to above-normal rainfall in September, the overall national outlook remains subdued, with below-normal rainfall expected for the month.

Impact & Risks

The significant monsoon deficit in South India poses risks to agriculture, particularly for farmers who have already sown kharif crops. Reservoir levels in the southern peninsula are now heavily reliant on the remaining weeks of the monsoon season, which is unlikely to bring sufficient rainfall to close the gap. Nationally, 14 states and union territories, including Punjab, have been classified as experiencing deficient rainfall. At the district level, 42% of the 741 districts evaluated by the IMD recorded below-normal rainfall, which could exacerbate water scarcity and impact agricultural productivity.

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