Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala registered 1,367.1 mm of rainfall during the first three months of the southwest monsoon season – from June 1 to August 31 – marking a 22 per cent drop from the seasonal average of 1,746.8 mm, according to figures released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD has officially categorised the state's total precipitation during this three-month window as “deficient”.

Wayanad suffered the sharpest drop among all districts, recording a 50 per cent shortfall with 1,090.1 mm against its average expectation of 2,200.9 mm. Idukki closely followed with a 44 per cent deficit, gathering 1,239.2 mm against its usual 2,203.3 mm.

Other southern and central districts also experienced noticeable shortfalls.

  • Kollam: 719.6 mm recorded vs 1,031 mm normal (30 per cent deficit)
  • Alappuzha: 1,031.7 mm recorded vs 1,370.7 mm normal (25 per cent deficit)
  • Palakkad: 1,037.1 mm recorded vs 1,349.2 mm normal (23 per cent deficit)
  • Thrissur: 1,425.2 mm recorded vs 1,838.3 mm normal (22 per cent deficit)
  • Malappuram: 1,369.1 mm recorded vs 1,702.3 mm normal (20 per cent deficit)
  • Ernakulam: 1,454 mm recorded vs 1,796.1 mm normal (19 per cent deficit)

Conversely, several districts remained within normal limits. Kannur accumulated 2,194 mm against a normal target of 2,349.7 mm (7 per cent deficit), while Kasaragod logged 2,254.8 mm against 2,576.8 mm (12 per cent deficit).

Similarly, Kozhikode recorded 2,023.6 mm against 2,273.2 mm (11 per cent deficit), Kottayam received 1,515.5 mm against 1,610.4 mm (6 per cent deficit), Pathanamthitta logged 1,293.3 mm against 1,321.5 mm (2 per cent deficit), and Thiruvananthapuram recorded 661.6 mm against 666.3 mm - just 1 per cent below normal.

In adjacent territories, Lakshadweep reported deficient rainfall with 635.1 mm against its average of 856.9 mm (26 per cent deficit). Mahe logged 1,806 mm against 2,128 mm (15 per cent deficit), which fell within normal parameters.

The southwest monsoon typically reaches Kerala around June 1. The IMD had earlier forecast below-average rainfall for the 2026 monsoon period.

PTI