India monsoon sweeps north but brings less rain than usual

Long-awaited monsoon rains arrived in India's financial capital, Mumbai, on Tuesday, cooling weeks of blazing heat.

The monsoon has swept north despite persistent fears of water shortages, with total rainfall so far staying below the long-term average. Hundreds of millions of people in India depend on the monsoon to sustain agriculture and industry.

Why is this year's monsoon bringing less rain than usual?

Climate change is making India hotter and shifting weather patterns, while the presence of El Nino this year has brought warnings of lower rainfall.

As of Monday, India had received 60.6 millimeters (2.4 inches) of rainfall, 43 percent less than the normal amount for this point in the season, according to weather department figures. The shortfall has raised concern among farmers and policymakers nationwide.

How did Mumbai react to the monsoon's arrival?

Mumbai saw some relief on Tuesday when the first downpours finally swept in, delighting many of the city's 22 million residents. Some suburbs, however, had to make do with only light drizzle. The weather department said the southwest monsoon had advanced further into the central Arabian Sea and into more parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai.

Last week, authorities in Mumbai imposed restrictions on water use, cutting supplies to swimming pools and construction sites. Some residents slept on beaches to escape sweltering night-time conditions in a dense city where many live without air conditioning. These measures came as the city waited for the monsoon to arrive in full force.

Why does India depend so heavily on the monsoon?

The monsoon is a colossal sea breeze that brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall between June and September. It sweeps north over several weeks, giving farmers the rain they need to plant their crops.

This makes the monsoon a crucial lifeline for a sector that supports 45 percent of people in the world's most populous country.

What is India doing to prepare for a weaker monsoon?

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan said this month that India would prepare contingency plans to help farmers endure potentially low rainfall linked to El Nino.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure and rainfall patterns. In India and Southeast Asia, it typically causes drier conditions, and the last El Nino helped make 2023 and 2024 the two hottest years on record.