Balanced News: After Driest August, India Sees Subdued Monsoon in Sept So Far As Rain Deficit Widens To 11%

India is experiencing a weak monsoon season, with a rainfall deficit of 11%. Twelve out of 36 sub-divisions in the country are rain-deficient, including parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The monsoon is expected to gain momentum in the region in the coming weeks, but northwest India is expected to remain largely dry. Meteorologists attribute the weak monsoon to the influence of El Niño, although this is counterbalanced by the positive Indian Ocean Dipole. Despite the weak monsoon, the India Meteorological Department expects September’s rainfall to be normal for the country.