In August India received 5 percent rainfall above normal – the seventh highest since 2001. | Photocredit: PTI
After heavy rainfall in Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka during the second two weeks of August, the agricultural crops damaged the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday “above normal” rain for September, causing fear of further damage to crops. Monsoon during the first three months until 31 August was 6 percent above normal.
The briefing from the media, IMD’s director -general M Mohapatra said: “Monthly average rainfall throughout the country in September is most likely more than 109 percent of the average (LPA) of the long period of 167.9 mm.” In August, India received 5 percent above normal rain – the seventh highest since 2001.
Rainfall over the northwestern meteorological subdivision in August was the highest and that on the south of the peninsula the third highest since 2001.
Furthermore, Mohapatra said that most parts of the country will probably receive normal to above normal rainfall, with the exception of some parts of the northeast and east, and various areas of the extreme south-facing island.
More landslides and floods
The IMD forecast card for September shows that standing crops can be in danger North Chhattisgarh, Oost -Rajasthan, West Haryana, South Punjab and Uttarakhand, because these areas are susceptible to more rainfall than the ‘above normal’ areas. Mohapatra warned against landslides and floods in Uttarakhand, who could disrupt normal life in Haryana, Delhi and Noordoost-Rajasthan.
Mohapatra observed a trend of the rainfall in September since 1980, except in 1986, 1991, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015 and 2019.
In a commentary on the rainfall in the second fourteen days of August, he said that the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) was in an unfavorable phase in the first two weeks of August, but became favorable during the second fourteen days, that rainfall helped. There were 133 events of extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.5 mm) in the month, which is the highest ever, according to data. The last two years were extremely heavy rainfall events 64 and 66.
Weerbureaug data show that the country received 33 percent surplus rain in the second fourteen days: Punjab had the highest at 202 percent above normal in the first half of August. Rajasthan saw 123 percent excess rain in 16-31 August against 84 percent deficit in 1-15 August.
Maharashtra has reported 94 percent surplus rain at 44 percent shortage, and Karnataka saw 51 percent surplus against 18 percent surplus.
“Absolutely heavy rainfall In the second half of August, most pulses such as Moong, Urad, Bajra and Jowar, corn and cotton will influence. The pollen of these crops would be washed away and where water stagnates, the whole would be damaged,” said Js Sandhu, the former agricultural commissioner.
Flood gates
Sandhu added that 15 of the 23 districts in Punjab are under the grip of floods because of the release of excess water water from reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh. This also affected Haryana and parts of Rajasthan.
There are reports of crass damage in approximately 2.5 lakh hectare (LH) in Punjab and 8 LH in Maharashtra. Boer leaders in Rajasthan said that in about 10 LH areas the yield would be dropped by at least 30 percent and in some areas there was full damage where farmers could not bend the plants because the plant window was over.
India received 743.1 mm of rainfall between 1 June and 31 August, about 6 percent above the long -term average of 700.7 mm, IMD said. Monsoon was 9 percent above normal in June and 5 percent excess in July. Mohapatra said that for the entire season in June-September the rainfall will not be lower than 106 percent that IMD had predicted in April. He also said that at least the withdrawal of the monsoon will not start for the next two weeks and indicated that there could be a delay.
Published August 31, 2025
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