Northeast records over 40 pc deficiency in June rainfall due to weakened monsoon, July likely to be below normal too: IMD

Guwahati: Seven of the eight Northeastern states, barring Sikkim, recorded a massive deficiency in monsoon rainfall during June due to weak rain-bearing systems the absence of active monsoon troughs, and the influence of El Nino, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said on Wednesday.

According to IMD data, the Northeastern region, comprising eight states, recorded an overall rainfall deficiency of more than 40 per cent during June, the first month of the four-month Southwest monsoon season (June to September).

Among the eight states, only Sikkim registered slightly excess rainfall during June, receiving 515.9 mm against its normal rainfall of 438.2 mm. Presently some districts of Assam and several areas of Arunachal Pradesh are battling flood.


An IMD official said that the monthly average rainfall over the country as a whole during July 2026 is most likely to remain below normal -- less than 94 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).

The LPA of rainfall over the country during July, based on data for the period 1971-2020, is around 280.4 mm. IMD officials, normal rainfall during July is crucial for the ongoing Kharif cropping season, as sowing activities across most parts of the country, including the mountainous Northeastern region, gather momentum during the month.

IMD data showed that Meghalaya and Manipur recorded "Large Deficient (LD)" rainfall during June, with deficiencies of 74 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively.

The five other Northeastern states -- Nagaland (56 per cent deficient), Arunachal Pradesh (44 per cent), Assam (37 per cent), Mizoram (37 per cent), and Tripura (36 per cent) -- recorded an average rainfall deficiency of around 42 per cent during June.

He said that Tripura received 250.3 mm of rainfall during June, which was 41 per cent below the normal rainfall for the month. According to the IMD official, rainfall during July is expected to remain below normal to near normal over Tripura, while both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain above normal across the state.

The Southwest monsoon advanced into substantial parts of the Northeastern region on June 7, two days later than its normal onset date.

The four-month Southwest monsoon is vital for the agrarian economy of the Northeastern states, where a large section of the population depends on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihood. Adequate rainfall during the remaining monsoon months would not only support Kharif cultivation but also help replenish rivers, reservoirs and groundwater resources, besides improving overall environmental conditions and ensuring water security across the region.