October is expected to bring hotter-than-usual temperatures across most of India, except for some parts of central India and the southern peninsula, where the heat will be less intense.
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While many regions may have benefitted from excess rain this monsoon season, Bihar faced severe flooding, worsened by water flowing down from the mountains of Nepal after heavy rains there. Rivers like the Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Mahananda have overflowed, leaving more than 12 lakh people across 16 districts affected by this natural disaster. Rescue operations are underway, with the NDRF, SDRF, and the Air Force deployed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas and has ordered accelerated rescue efforts.
Looking ahead, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heavy rain warnings for the northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, for Wednesday.
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October is expected to bring hotter-than-usual temperatures across most of India, except for some parts of central India and the southern peninsula, where the heat will be less intense. Rainfall from October to December will likely be below normal in northwest India but above normal in central India, the southern peninsula, and parts of the northeast. The IMD forecasts 115% of normal rainfall in October, although northeastern and northwestern regions could see reduced precipitation during this time.
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Above-normal rainfall
India’s 2024 monsoon season delivered a total of 934.8 mm of rainfall, 107.6% of the long-term average, resulting in a 7.6% increase over normal levels. This higher-than-average rainfall has been a mixed blessing for different regions, with central India receiving 19% more rain and the southern peninsula witnessing a 14% increase. Northwest India also saw 7% more rain than normal. However, the eastern and northeastern parts of the country experienced a 14% deficit in rainfall, creating a varied impact across India.
The distribution of rainfall throughout the season was also uneven. June saw a rainfall deficit of 11%, but the skies opened up in the following months, with July recording 9% more rain, August witnessing a 15.3% surplus, and September closing the season with an 11.6% increase in precipitation.