IMD declared the southwest monsoon withdrawn from all of India on October 15, 2026, as northeast monsoon rainfall began over the southern peninsula after a deficient season.

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• The India Meteorological Department announced that the southwest monsoon withdrew from the entire country on October 15, 2026.
• Northeast monsoon rainfall activity commenced the same day over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka, and Kerala and Mahe.
• The onset was linked to an upper air cyclonic circulation over south coastal Tamil Nadu and easterly or northeasterly winds over the southern peninsula and adjoining Bay of Bengal.
• IMD forecast a wet spell with isolated heavy falls over many parts of south peninsular India until October 21.
• Withdrawal of the southwest monsoon began on September 19, 2026, from the northwest of the country.
• Rainfall for the June to September season was 87 per cent of the Long Period Average, which IMD classes as deficient because it fell below 90 per cent.
• The season ended with 12.6 per cent less rain than the long-period average, making it India's weakest monsoon in over a decade.
• El Nino conditions weighed on the season, and IMD had forecast 92 per cent of the Long Period Average in April before trimming it to 90 per cent in June.
• The southwest monsoon had covered the entire country on July 9, 2026, with the cumulative deficit narrowing to 14 per cent from 30 per cent on June 30.
• IMD classifies seasonal rainfall by its departure from the Long Period Average, which for the southwest monsoon is 87 centimetres based on 1971 to 2020 data.