The India Meteorological Department confirmed the Southwest Monsoon reached Kerala on June 4, three days later than the usual June 1 onset. Weather officials say such minor delays are not unusual and don’t necessarily point to a weak season, though the IMD has projected overall rainfall this year at around 90 to 92 percent of the long-period average — placing 2026 in below-normal territory.
India depends on the monsoon for close to 70 percent of its annual rainfall, making the season’s progress a key factor in crop yields, food prices, and reservoir levels over the coming months. Meteorologists are continuing to monitor the influence of a strengthening El Niño pattern in the Pacific as the season unfolds.
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