South Asia Regional Profile
India
Sensitive Rain Seasons
- Southwest Monsoon (June–September): Accounts for ~70% of annual rainfall; roughly 60% of historic El Niño years experienced below-normal monsoon totals.
- Northeast Monsoon (October–December): Brings rainfall to southeastern India (Tamil Nadu); often normal to slightly enhanced during El Niño.
Primary Environmental Hazards
- • Subdued monsoon precipitation causing kharif crop yield reductions (paddy, pulses, oilseeds)
- • Depleted groundwater and reservoir levels across central and western peninsular states
- • Higher food price inflation, particularly for agricultural commodities
- • Increased heatwave frequency and duration during pre-monsoon and monsoon breaks
Current 2026–27 El Niño Context for India
While the 2026 summer monsoon concluded with mixed performance, the strengthening El Niño advisory indicates elevated heat anomalies into winter and poses risks for pre-monsoon 2027.
Major Monitored River Basins in India
Ganges River Basin
25.60° N, 85.10° EVast agricultural lifeline of northern India; critical gauge at Patna.
Brahmaputra River
26.18° N, 91.75° EProne to massive annual monsoon flooding around Guwahati.
Godavari Basin
20.00° N, 73.79° ECentral-peninsular drainage highly sensitive to monsoon deficits.
Monitored Cities in India
Select any city below for real-time temperature, 7-day rainfall forecasts, and live flood risk score:
Mumbai
19.1° N, 72.9° EChennai
13.1° N, 80.3° ENew Delhi
28.6° N, 77.2° EKolkata
22.6° N, 88.4° EBengaluru
13.0° N, 77.6° EHyderabad
17.4° N, 78.5° EAhmedabad
23.0° N, 72.6° EHistorical El Niño Events in India
2009 Event
Severe El Niño triggered India's driest monsoon in nearly four decades.
2015 Event
Back-to-back weak monsoons led to extensive drought across Maharashtra and Bundelkhand.
2023 Event
Below-average August rainfall was the driest on record before late-season rains provided partial recovery.