Hyderabad: Telangana recorded an 18 per cent rainfall deficit during the 2026 southwest monsoon season.
According to the Telangana Development Planning Society, cumulative rainfall from June 1 to Thursday reached 615.6 mm against the normal 746.3 mm.
Out of 33 districts, 15 recorded normal rainfall, while remaining districts suffered deficits between 20 and 43 per cent, with state capital Hyderabad registering a 28 per cent shortfall. The southwest monsoon, officially concluding on Wednesday, remained weak across Telugu states.
Although July and August experienced severe deficits, a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal in late September marginally improved overall precipitation.
The India Meteorological Department reported that national rainfall reached 87 per cent of its long-period average at 759.4 mm, marking the fourth lowest since 2001 and thirteenth lowest since 1901.
Seasonal rainfall across the South Peninsula stood at 76 per cent of long-period average, recording 542 mm, making it the second lowest since 2001.
Meteorologists observed 14 low-pressure systems, including six depressions, during the season, generating 77 low-pressure system days compared to the normal 57 days.
September featured three low-pressure systems, two of which intensified into deep depressions that delivered crucial precipitation across Peninsular India, Central India, and the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Looking ahead, post-monsoon rainfall from October to December across south Peninsular India is expected to be normal, ranging between 88 and 112 per cent of the long-period average baseline of 334.13 mm.
Across India, below-normal rainfall is predicted for most regions, though southern peninsular areas and selected northwestern pockets are likely to receive normal to above-normal precipitation.
