Southwest monsoon enters Northeast India, full coverage in 2-3 days
Synopsis
The Southwest monsoon has arrived in Northeast India two days behind schedule, covering Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Despite one of the strongest El Nino events on record expected later in 2026, IMD officials say the region's topography and forest cover should shield it — and rainfall is forecast to remain normal to above-normal.
Key Takeaways
The Southwest monsoon entered Tripura , Mizoram , Nagaland , Manipur , and parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on 7 June 2026 .
Onset arrived two days later than the normal date; in 2025 the monsoon had reached most of the Northeast by 26 May .
Full coverage of all northeastern states expected within 2-3 days , according to IMD .
Seasonal rainfall across the Northeast is forecast to be normal to above normal despite broader El Nino fears.
A major El Nino event is expected in the second half of 2026 , but IMD says the Northeast's topography and forest cover offer a natural buffer.
The monsoon is critical for the region's rain-fed agriculture , which supports a large share of the northeastern population.
The Southwest monsoon advanced into large parts of Northeast India on Sunday, 7 June 2026, arriving two days later than its normal onset date. The system has already covered Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, bringing widespread rainfall and raising hopes for a normal to above-normal season across the region.
Key Developments
Officials at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) centres in Guwahati and Agartala confirmed the monsoon's arrival across multiple northeastern states. According to an IMD official in Agartala, the system is expected to cover all remaining northeastern states within the next two to three days, as favourable meteorological conditions currently prevail over the region.
By comparison, in 2025 the Southwest monsoon had advanced into most parts of the Northeastern region as early as 26 May, making this year's onset notably delayed. Despite the lag, forecasters say the delay is unlikely to significantly affect seasonal totals.
Broader Rainfall Outlook
The IMD has indicated that rainfall is likely across several other regions in the coming days, including parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. Conditions also remain favourable for the monsoon's further advance into parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim over the next three to four days.
El Nino Concern and Northeast's Resilience
A weather expert noted that one of the strongest El Nino events on record is widely expected to develop during the second half of 2026, potentially triggering hot and dry conditions across large parts of Asia. The effects, experts say, are likely to be intensified by ongoing global climate change.
However, IMD officials said the phenomenon is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact on the mountainous Northeastern region, owing to its extensive forest cover, varied topography, and favourable climatic conditions. Rainfall across the northeastern states during the Southwest monsoon season is expected to remain normal to above normal, even as the IMD had earlier revised its forecast for the four-month monsoon season — June to September — which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of India's annual rainfall.
Impact on Agriculture and Water Resources
The onset of the monsoon carries particular significance for the agrarian economy of the Northeastern states, where a large section of the population depends on rain-fed agriculture. Adequate rainfall during the season is expected to support agricultural activities, replenish water resources, and improve overall environmental conditions across the region.
With the full monsoon cover now just days away, attention will shift to whether seasonal totals track the above-normal forecast — and whether the broader El Nino threat materialises as projected in the months ahead.
Point of View
But it lands in an unusually fraught year — with one of the strongest El Nino events on record forecast for the second half of 2026. IMD's reassurance about the Northeast's natural buffer is credible given the region's topography, but it should not obscure the broader national picture: the four-month monsoon season underpins 70 per cent of India's annual rainfall, and any El Nino-driven shortfall in central and peninsular India could have outsized consequences for food prices and rural incomes. The Northeast may be insulated; the rest of India is watching the same sky with far less comfort.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Southwest monsoon reached Northeast India in 2026?
Yes. The Southwest monsoon entered Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on 7 June 2026, two days later than its normal onset date. Full coverage of all northeastern states is expected within two to three days.
Why is the 2026 monsoon onset delayed in the Northeast?
The monsoon arrived two days after its normal onset date, compared to 26 May 2025 when it had covered most of the Northeast. IMD has not attributed the delay to a single cause, but notes that favourable conditions are now in place for rapid further advancement.
Will El Nino affect the Northeast monsoon in 2026?
IMD officials say El Nino is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact on the Northeast, given the region's extensive forest cover, varied topography, and favourable climatic conditions. Seasonal rainfall is forecast to remain normal to above normal despite one of the strongest El Nino events on record expected in the second half of 2026.
Which other regions will receive monsoon rainfall in the coming days?
According to the IMD, rainfall is expected over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry in the coming days.
Why does the monsoon onset matter for Northeast India?
A large section of the northeastern population depends on rain-fed agriculture, making timely monsoon onset critical for crop sowing and water resource replenishment. Adequate rainfall also supports overall environmental conditions across the region's ecologically sensitive landscape.
