Now On, Now Off, Sw Monsoon Comes To An End -17% Deficit, But Telangana Officially In 'Normal' Category

The monsoon season that began on June 1, and officially ended on September 30, has left Telangana with an overall rainfall deficit of 17 per cent with the state receiving 615.5 mm of rainfall against the normal 740.6 mm in the entire season, according to rainfall data from the Telangana Development Planning Society (TgDPS).

However, the overall deficit of 17 per cent which falls within the India Meteorological Department’s ‘normal’ range of -19 to +19 per cent, may place the state in the normal category on paper but the ground conditions tell a different story.

Of Telangana’s 33 districts, 18 are officially in the ‘deficient category’ with their average rainfall ranging between -20 to -59 per cent. And of the 17 in the ‘normal’ category, only five have rainfall on the positive side – between +2 and +10 per cent –, while one district, Peddapalli was at 0 per cent departure, midway between negative and positive rainfall variation. Against the seasonal normal of 864.6mm, Peddapalli received 863 mm of rain this season.

Despite Telangana’s overall ‘normal’ status, four mandals, one each in Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Narayanpet, and Wanaparthy fall in the ‘severely deficient’ category among the state’s 621 mandals. Just two days ago, on September 28, only one mandal was in this category, Waddepalle in Jogulamba Gadwal district.

Jogulamba Gadwal recorded the highest deficit at -41 per cent for the season, followed by Narayanpet and Hanamkonda at 35 per cent each; six more districts recorded deficits of 31 to 34 per cent.

Telangana’s 2026 monsoon

Normal – 740.6mm

Actual this year – 615.5mm

Deficit - -17%

Rain-deficient districts: 18

Normal (-19 to +19 %) rain districts: 17

Districts in normal rainfall category (-19% to +19%): 5

Zero departure: Peddapalli district (Seasonal normal 864.6mm, actual 863mm)