Guwahati: East and northeast India recorded their lowest monsoon rainfall since 1901, with a 26% shortfall compared to the long-period average (LPA).“Rainfall over east & northeast India was 1017.1 mm, which is the lowest since 1901, and the South Peninsula was 542.0 mm, which is the 4th lowest since 1901 and the 2nd lowest since 2001,” IMD said in a statement on salient features of the 2026 southwest monsoon.The June-Sept monsoon season ended on Wednesday.The southwest monsoon arrived in Keralam on June 4, three days after its normal onset date of June 1. It advanced in phases, covering southern, eastern and northeastern India before moving into central and parts of northwest India during June.The country recorded deficient monsoon rainfall in 2026, with the seasonal total falling below 90% of the LPA. Of the four broad geographical regions, central and northwest India received normal rainfall, recording 94-106% and 92-108% of their respective LPAs.East and northeast India and the south peninsula, however, recorded below-normal rainfall. At 74% of its LPA, the east and northeast region had the steepest shortfall among the four zones.The extended rainfall deficit is significant because Northeast is one of India’s wettest regions and relies heavily on the southwest monsoon for agriculture, water supply and other economic activities.The deficit was most pronounced in Meghalaya, which recorded 60% less rainfall than normal, followed by Manipur (-45%), Arunachal Pradesh (-44%) and Assam (-28%). All four states were in the deficient rainfall category.Nagaland and Sikkim bucked the regional trend. Nagaland recorded 6% above-normal rainfall, while Sikkim received 10% more than its LPA. Both states recorded normal to above-normal seasonal rainfall.IMD’s May 29 forecast projected normal rainfall over the northeast, at 94-106% of the LPA, while predicting below-normal rainfall over central and south peninsular India and northwest India.The actual seasonal departures were -26% for the northeast, -24% for the south peninsula, -3% for central India and -6% for northwest India, showing a sharp divergence between the forecast and the eventual rainfall pattern over the northeast.
