El Niño history in India
What past El Niño years meant for the Indian monsoon. History is not a promise about this year.
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- 1972: the El Niño year India had one of its worst monsoons
In 1972 India had one of the weakest monsoons in its records, during a moderate El Niño (IMD's El Niño and monsoon table).
- 1987: when nearly half of India was in drought
The 1987 monsoon came during a moderate El Niño, according to IMD's El Niño and monsoon table.
- 1997: the strong El Niño that India escaped, and why
1997 brought one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Yet India's June–September monsoon ended at +0.
- 2002: the El Niño year the monsoon missed July
In 2002 India's monsoon failed during what IMD rates a weak El Niño. June–September rain was 20.
- 2015–16: El Niño, Latur's water trains and India's 51°C record
The 2015–16 El Niño, rated moderate by IMD, came with India's second weak monsoon in a row.
- 2023: the El Niño year India had its driest August since 1901
The 2023 El Niño, rated weak by IMD, did its damage in one month.