The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted below-normal rainfall over the country during the southwest monsoon season, between June and September. Briefing the media on the Second Stage Long Range Forecast for Monsoon Season 2026 in New Delhi today, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M. Ravichandran said that the southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall over the country is likely to be 90 per cent of the long period on average, with a model error of plus minus four percent.

He informed that during the season, rainfall is most likely to be normal over northeast India and below normal over central, Southern Peninsular and North West India. He said that El Nino conditions are very likely to develop during the monsoon season. Addressing the media, Director General of IMD, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the average rainfall of the country during the month of June is most likely to be below normal. He said during the period only some parts of the country including northwest, northeast and south peninsula are expected to witness normal or above normal rainfall.

He further informed that during June, above normal maximum temperatures are likely to prevail across most parts of the country. Mr Mohapatra added that during the month of June above normal heat wave conditions are expected over many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.