Monsoon to arrive early but El Nino set to undercut rainy season in India: Exact Timeline For Your State
India’s southwest monsoon is expected to arrive slightly earlier than normal in 2026, bringing hope for quicker relief from severe heatwaves and water stress across several states. However, climate experts are simultaneously warning that a developing El Niño pattern later in the season could weaken rainfall distribution and disrupt monsoon performance in parts of the country.
This unusual combination, an early monsoon onset followed by possible El Niño interference, is becoming one of the most closely watched weather developments of the year.
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State-Wise Monsoon Timeline
Current expected timelines for monsoon progression for the various states of India:
Southern India.
It is anticipated that Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will have greater rainfall intensity during the first week of June.
Eastern and Northeastern India.
It is anticipated that West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and northeastern states of India such as Assam and Meghalaya will be experiencing widespread rainfall from the monsoon by the second week of June.
Central India.
It is anticipated that Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the adjacent central regions of India will have advancement of the monsoon by the middle of June.
Western India.
It is estimated that Maharashtra and Gujarat will begin progression of the monsoon from June 10-20, based on the activity of the Arabian Sea.
Northern India.
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are anticipated to have widespread monsoon rain by late June.
Final Words
At this time, southern and eastern states might soon be relieved of intense heat, but how much the rainy season is successful over the long haul, will depend on how the conditions of the Pacific Ocean change through the summer months. As forecasters continue to monitor both monsoon currents and El Niño signals, millions of people throughout India will be closely monitoring every update on how many times it rains.
FAQs
Q) Is the monsoon starting early this year?
A) Yes, the current forecast indicates that monsoons will start slightly earlier than normal in the area of Kerala.
Q). What does “El Niño” mean?
A). El Niño refers to a climate variation occurring in the Pacific Ocean that has the potential to reduce circulation within the Indian monsoon system.
Q). Will “El Niño” completely interrupt the monsoon?
A). There will still be some rainfall from the monsoon; however, it will be likely that this rainfall will fall unevenly and will be distributed at different levels of intensity.
Q). What states usually receive the first monsoon rains?
A). The states that are expected to receive the earliest monsoon rains will be Kerala and the southernmost states of India and a few of the northeastern locations as well.
