Bengaluru is witnessing the driest monsoon in decades

A vendor shields himself at KR Market after rain lashed Bengaluru on September 29, 2026. | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J

Bengaluru might have witnessed heavy rains in the past few days, but the southwest monsoon rain pattern between June 1 and September 30 reveals a different story. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, during this period, Bengaluru city station recorded 313 mm of rainfall with a departure of -236 mm.

While Bengaluru station recorded a rainfall deficit of -236 mm between June 1 and September 30, HAL station recorded 434 mm rainfall with a deficit of -29 mm. Kempegowda International Airport received 391 mm of rainfall while the deficit for the station is not available.

A post at the X clique said the city witnessed the driest southwest monsoon in 20 years. “The IMD Observatory in Bengaluru sees the driest southwest monsoon in 20 years, recording just 313.3 mm of rainfall compared to an average of 597.7 mm for the period between June 1 and September 30. Earlier, the observatory recorded 298.3 mm in the 2006 SWM season,” said @B

Overall, according to IMD seasonal cumulative rainfall data, Karnataka received 564.6 mm of rainfall against the normal of 831.8 mm with a variation of -32%.

Among the districts, Bengaluru South (formerly Ramanagara) got the highest deficit at -87%, followed by Kalaburagi and Hassan at -55% and -53% respectively. Bengaluru urban area received 258.7 mm rainfall against normal 452.4 mm with a deficit of -43%.

IMD officials attribute the rainfall deficit to a strong El Nino that delayed the onset of the Southwest Monsoon in Karnataka.

Karnataka has three meteorological subdivisions — Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka.

Coastal Karnataka received 2,228.3 mm rainfall against the normal 3,093.9 mm rainfall with a variation of -28%. North Interior Karnataka received 329.8 mm against the normal of 480.8 mm with a variation of -31%. South Interior Karnataka received 433.7 mm against 678.4 mm with a variation of -36%.

“As per the forecast, we are witnessing strong El Nino conditions which have severely affected the southwest monsoon in the state,” IMD scientist CS Patil said.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 23:14 IST