Telangana ends 2026 Southwest Monsoon with 17% deficient rainfall, 38% lower than 2025

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The 2026 Southwest Monsoon concluded in Telangana with a 17% rainfall deficit, with the State receiving 615.5 mm of rainfall between June and September against the seasonal normal of 740.6 mm.

According to data released by the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS), the State’s rainfall was also substantially lower than the last year. Telangana received 988.3 mm during the 2025 Southwest Monsoon, making the 2026 rainfall 38% lower than the previous year.

The poor performance in this monsoon unfolded against the backdrop of an evolving El Nino — which is a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that alters global atmospheric circulation and can weaken the conditions that bring moisture-laden winds to India, increasing the likelihood of deficient monsoon rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its forecasts issued ahead of the monsoon, had said that El Nino conditions were likely to develop during the Southwest Monsoon.

For Telangana, the rainfall shortfall was spread across all four months of the season. While 115.3 mm was received in June against the normal 130.3 mm, a deficit of 12%, 224 mm was recorded in July against 227.4 mm, a marginal deficit of 1%. The sharpest fall came in August, when the State received just 134.5 mm against the normal 215.8 mm, leaving a 38% deficit. September ended with 141.7 mm against the normal 167.1 mm, a deficit of 15%.

The impact was uneven across Telangana. Of the 33 districts, 15 remained in the normal rainfall category, while 18 were classified as deficient. No district recorded excess or large excess rainfall, while none fell into the large deficient or no-rain categories. At the mandal level, one mandal was in the large excess category, 36 were in the excess category, 259 were normal, 320 were deficient and five were large deficient.

Meanwhile in urban pockets, the Hyderabad district received 458.2 mm of rainfall against its normal of 627.2 mm, resulting in a 27% deficiency. Medchal Malkajgiri received 407.4 mm against the normal 603.7 mm, leaving it 33% deficient. Rangareddy received 468.3 mm against 547.7 mm, a 14% deficit.

Across the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) areas, cumulative rainfall stood at 456.6 mm against the normal 618.9 mm, a 26% deficit.

Siddipet was the best-performing district in terms of rainfall deviation, receiving 678.3 mm against a normal of 614.8 mm, being 10% above normal. Medak recorded a 7% surplus, Rajanna Sircilla 5% and Kamareddy 4%.

Jogulamba Gadwal recorded the largest rainfall deficit in the State. It received only 262.6 mm against a normal of 447.4 mm, a 41% shortfall. Narayanpet and Hanumakonda were each 35% deficient and Nalgonda was 34% deficient.

The monsoon’s exit also came with temperatures remaining on the higher side in several districts. Khammam recorded the State’s highest maximum temperature of 37.2°C, followed by 37.1°C at Chandampet (Nalgonda). Nizamabad, Narayanpet, Mahabubabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Suryapet and Peddapalli each recorded 37°C.

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