El Niño Extends Into 2027 Raising Drought and Flood Risks Across India

El Niño continues to dominate the climate outlook, with the World Meteorological Organization confirming the phenomenon will last into early 2027, raising concerns over prolonged heat and altered monsoon patterns across South Asia.

India Meteorological Department reports that September rainfall fell below the long‑term average, narrowing the monsoon window and prompting a sharp regional divide where western and central zones received less than 70 mm while eastern coastal areas saw near‑normal totals.

Farmers in kharif‑dependent regions face heightened risk as the monsoon tracker highlights that the next two weeks are critical for sowing; delayed rains could cut crop yields by an estimated 15‑20 percent according to agrarian analysts.

State governments such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are preparing drought relief measures, while Odisha and West Bengal are bolstering flood defenses, reflecting the dual threat outlined in the Super El Niño impact brief.