East and Northeast India: the driest monsoon since 1901

Northeast India is usually one of the wettest parts of the country, yet 2026 brought its driest monsoon on record.

The record (fact). IMD's end-of-season report says its East and Northeast India region received 1,016.3 mm of rain from June to September, against a normal of 1,367.3 mm. That is 74% of normal, the lowest for the region since records began in 1901. IMD's region covers the northeastern states and Sikkim, plus West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Every month was short. As a share of each month's normal: June 65%, July 71%, August 83% and September 75%. No month reached normal.

October has stayed dry. IMD's subdivision figures for 1–17 October show Assam and Meghalaya 69% short, Arunachal Pradesh 66% short, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim 62% short, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura 40% short.

Is El Niño the cause? El Niño tends to weaken the monsoon across India, but rain in the northeast also depends on other local and regional factors. IMD has not attributed this record to El Niño alone, so we do not either.

What to watch. Lower river and groundwater levels can affect drinking water, fishing and winter crops. Follow IMD Guwahati and your state agriculture department for advisories, and save water where you can.

Join the El Niño help room on soshyal.com to ask questions and share what you see in your area.