New Delhi, Sept. 30 – The four-month monsoon season ended on Tuesday with the country receiving 8% more rainfall than average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, even as parts of the northeast grappled with one of the driest seasons in more than a century.
India recorded 937.2 mm of rainfall between June and September against the long-period average of 868.6 mm, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told reporters. He described the season as “very successful” despite widespread damage from landslides, mudslides and cloudbursts.
While much of the country saw above-normal rains, east and northeast India received just 1,089.9 mm—20% below the average of 1,367.3 mm. “Rainfall over east and northeast India this year was the second lowest since 1901, after 2013 when the region recorded 1,065.7 mm,” Mohapatra said.
He noted a worrying long-term trend: “Rainfall over east and northeast India has decreased in the last 20 years, with a decline observed consistently since 2020.” Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya experienced deficient rainfall in three of the four monsoon months, the IMD said.
In contrast, northwest India registered its wettest season in more than two decades, with 747.9 mm of rainfall—27.3% above normal. This was the region’s highest since 2001 and the sixth highest since 1901. “All districts in northwest India recorded above-normal rainfall in June, August and September,” Mohapatra added.
Central India also saw heavy rains, measuring 1,125.3 mm, which is 15.1% higher than the long-term average of 978 mm. The southern peninsula recorded 9.9% above-normal rainfall at 716.2 mm.
Looking ahead, Mohapatra said most parts of the country, except some areas of the northwest, are likely to receive above-normal rainfall from October to December.
