India Monsoon 2026: Where Does the Season Stand Now?
India's Southwest Monsoon 2026 has entered a crucial phase after a slow start. As of July 10, 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that the southwest monsoon has covered the entire country, reaching all remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab on July 9, almost in line with its normal schedule.
Although June witnessed uneven rainfall across several regions, monsoon activity strengthened significantly during the first week of July, reducing the national rainfall deficit and bringing widespread showers to large parts of the country.
How Has the Monsoon Performed So Far?
The 2026 monsoon season began with a relatively weak phase in many parts of central and northwestern India. Several states experienced below-normal rainfall during June, raising concerns among farmers regarding kharif sowing.
However, weather systems became more active during early July, resulting in heavy rainfall across northern, eastern and northeastern India. This improvement has helped reduce the country's cumulative rainfall deficit considerably.
States including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Northeast India have received widespread rainfall over the past week, while some regions continue to experience localized flooding and waterlogging.
States Receiving Heavy Rainfall
According to the latest IMD forecast, active monsoon conditions are expected over several regions, including:
- Delhi-NCR
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Assam
- Meghalaya
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
Many of these states remain under heavy rainfall alerts, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds expected in isolated areas over the coming days.
Areas Likely to Receive Less Rain
While northern and eastern India continue to receive active monsoon showers, the IMD has indicated that central India and the southern peninsular region may witness subdued rainfall during the next six to seven days.
States such as parts of:
- Madhya Pradesh
- Telangana
- Interior Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Interior Maharashtra
could experience below-normal rainfall for a brief period before fresh weather systems develop later in July.
How Will the Monsoon Behave for the Rest of July?
Meteorologists expect the monsoon to remain active over northern and eastern India while rainfall distribution may become uneven across central and southern regions.
Several low-pressure systems are likely to develop over the Bay of Bengal during the second half of July. These systems could revive rainfall activity across central India and adjoining states.
Farmers are being advised to closely monitor district-level forecasts, particularly in areas where rainfall remains below normal.
Will El Niño Affect India's Monsoon?
Climate experts continue to monitor the influence of El Niño on the 2026 monsoon season.
Although El Niño generally weakens India's seasonal rainfall, experts say short-duration weather systems and low-pressure areas have helped improve rainfall during July. However, rainfall distribution is expected to remain uneven throughout the season because of changing climate patterns.
IMD's Seasonal Outlook
The IMD's seasonal forecast estimates that India is likely to receive around 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall during the June-September monsoon season, indicating a below-normal but not drought-like monsoon at the national level. Regional variations, however, are expected to remain significant.
What Can People Expect in the Coming Weeks?
For the remainder of July, India is expected to witness a mix of weather conditions:
- Heavy rainfall likely over North, East and Northeast India.
- Periodic flooding possible in low-lying urban areas.
- Moderate rainfall expected across western India.
- Relatively weaker rainfall over parts of Central and South Peninsular India for the next week.
- Additional low-pressure systems may revive rainfall during the latter half of July.
Residents in areas under heavy rainfall alerts should stay updated with official IMD advisories and local administration warnings.
Conclusion
The 2026 southwest monsoon has recovered well after a slow beginning and has now covered the entire country. While rainfall has improved considerably in many regions, weather experts caution that the season will likely remain uneven, with some states receiving excess rainfall and others continuing to face rainfall deficits.
The second half of July will be crucial for agriculture, reservoir levels and overall water availability across India as new weather systems develop over the Bay of Bengal.
