India's 2026 monsoon starts patchy with risk of drier spells
India's 2026 monsoon is off to a patchy start: Kerala got rain on June 4, but while Odisha and Bihar are doing fine, places like Maharashtra had received only 26% of its normal rainfall in the first half of June.
Satellite data shows the monsoon isn't following its usual pattern: the Arabian Sea branch is shaky, and there's less cloud cover over central and western India.
There are also signs of El Nino conditions developing, which could cause reduced convection over India, resulting in longer dry spells and uneven rainfall.
India Meteorological Department forecasts 90% monsoon
The India Meteorological Department expects this year's monsoon to hit just 90% of normal levels—a worry for farmers in states like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu who depend on steady rains.
With El Nino possibly making things worse, unpredictable weather could mean more challenges for crops and food supplies in the coming weeks.