Dry, wet, dry again: India’s ‘mysterious’ monsoon swings threaten crops, power supply

India's monsoon rainfall is experiencing erratic swings, characterized by prolonged dry spells followed by intense downpours. This phenomenon is attributed to an intensifying El Nino and global warming, which are altering weather patterns. This year, June was the fifth driest on record, with rainfall nearly 40% below normal. This was followed by a significant deluge in early August, where some cities received a month's worth of rain in a week. Subsequently, the monsoon has stalled, resulting in national rainfall currently about 24% lower than usual. These unpredictable weather shifts pose a threat to agricultural output and strain the country's power grids.