Udupi: The monsoon in Udupi district weakened again in August, with the district recording a 10% rainfall deficit during the month. The cumulative rainfall deficit for the June-August monsoon period has now reached 29%, according to data from the District Disaster Management Centre at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The rainfall situation remains a concern after June and July also recorded significant shortfalls. Although heavy showers during the first week of August had raised hopes among residents and farmers, the rains declined again as the month progressed.
August rainfall falls short
Udupi district received 953 mm of rainfall in August, against the normal rainfall of 1,064 mm. This resulted in a deficit of 10%.
The August figures followed two deficient months. In June, Udupi recorded a steep 50% deficit, receiving only 558 mm against the normal 1,106 mm. In July, the deficit stood at 27%, with 1,058 mm recorded against the normal 1,448 mm.
The brief spell of heavy rainfall at the beginning of August therefore failed to make up for the shortfall accumulated during the earlier months.
Monsoon deficit reaches 29%
From June 1 to August 31, Udupi district normally receives around 3,617 mm of rainfall.
This year, however, the district received only 2,569 mm, resulting in a shortfall of 1,048 mm or 29%.
The deficit has varied across the district’s taluks, with some areas experiencing a considerably larger shortfall.
Hebri recorded a 33% deficit, receiving 3,194 mm against its normal rainfall of 4,753 mm during the three-month period.
Kundapura records excess rain
Kundapura was the only taluk in Udupi district to record excess rainfall during August.
The taluk received 934 mm, compared with its normal rainfall of 829 mm, registering 13% excess rainfall.
Karkala received 1,067 mm against the normal 1,064 mm, while Udupi recorded 733 mm against the normal 781 mm.
Byndoor received 887 mm, compared with its normal rainfall of 970 mm. Other taluks also recorded varying levels of rainfall deficiency.
Eight-month rainfall also deficient
The rainfall deficit extends beyond the monsoon months.
Between January 1 and August 31, 2026, Udupi district received 2,738 mm of rainfall against the normal 3,818 mm. This amounts to an overall deficit of 28% for the first eight months of the year.
Karkala recorded a 25% deficit during this period, receiving 2,955 mm against the normal 3,917 mm.
Kundapura recorded a comparatively lower deficit of 14%, receiving 2,740 mm against the normal 3,200 mm.
Sharp contrast with 2025
The rainfall situation this year is markedly different from that of 2025.
In August 2025, Udupi recorded an 8% rainfall deficit. However, the overall June-August monsoon period ended with 4% excess rainfall, with the district receiving 3,789 mm against the normal 3,638 mm.
The January-August period was also significantly wetter last year. Udupi received 4,728 mm during the first eight months of 2025, compared with the normal 3,818 mm, resulting in 23% excess rainfall.
The contrast highlights the sharp change in rainfall patterns between the two years.
Farmers face uncertain monsoon
The deficient rainfall has raised concerns among farmers and residents who had expected the monsoon to strengthen after the weak start to the season.
Heavy showers in early August provided temporary relief, but the rainfall did not continue at the required pace through the month.
The cumulative 29% deficit means that Udupi has received considerably less rainfall than normal during the core monsoon period.
Karnataka also records rainfall deficiency
The rainfall shortfall is not limited to Udupi.
According to the State Disaster Management Centre, rainfall deficiency has been reported across Karnataka, with Belagavi and Bagalkot being the only exceptions.
The situation varies from district to district, but the overall pattern points to an uneven monsoon across the State.
What the figures show
The Udupi rainfall data indicate three consecutive months of deficient rainfall.
June recorded the largest shortfall at 50%, followed by 27% in July and 10% in August.
Although the August deficit was considerably smaller than those recorded in the previous two months, it was not enough to significantly reduce the cumulative shortfall.
With 2,569 mm recorded against the normal 3,617 mm between June and August, the district remains 29% below its expected monsoon rainfall.
Conclusion
The district’s monsoon rainfall deficit has reached 29% after August ended with a 10% shortfall, despite a spell of heavy rain during the first week of the month. Udupi received 2,569 mm between June 1 and August 31, against the normal 3,617 mm.
The rainfall situation is in sharp contrast to 2025, when Udupi recorded excess rainfall during both the monsoon period and the first eight months of the year.
With rainfall remaining below normal, the district’s weather pattern will continue to be closely watched as the monsoon season progresses.