Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Sep 1: Heavy showers during the first week of August had revived hopes among people and farmers after a severely deficient June and July. But the respite proved short-lived, with the monsoon once again losing steam and August ending with a 10% rainfall deficit. The cumulative shortfall for the three-month monsoon period has now reached 29% in Udupi district.
June was particularly harsh, with the district recording a 50% deficit after receiving just 558 mm against the normal 1,106 mm. The deficit eased to 27% in July, when 1,058 mm was recorded against the normal 1,448 mm. In August, the district received 953 mm against the normal 1,064 mm, resulting in a 10% deficit, according to data from the District Disaster Management Centre at the deputy commissioner’s office.
The State Disaster Management Centre has reported rainfall deficiency across Karnataka, with Belagavi and Bagalkot being the only exceptions.
August rainfall data shows that Kundapura was the lone taluk in Udupi district to escape the deficit. It received 934 mm against the normal 829 mm, recording 13% excess rainfall.
Karkala received 1,067 mm against the normal 1,064 mm, while Udupi recorded 733 mm against 781 mm. Byndoor received 887 mm against the normal 970 mm. The remaining taluks also recorded varying levels of rainfall deficiency.
1,048-mm shortfall during monsoon
From June 1 to August 31, Udupi district should normally have received 3,617 mm of rainfall. Instead, only 2,569 mm was recorded — a shortfall of 1,048 mm and a deficit of 29%.
The deficit was particularly severe in several taluks. Hebri recorded a 33% shortfall, receiving 3,194 mm against the normal 4,753 mm. Other taluks too reported varying degrees of deficiency during the monsoon.
28% deficit in eight months
The wider rainfall picture is equally concerning. Between January 1 and August 31, 2026, Udupi district received 2,738 mm against the normal 3,818 mm, translating into an overall deficit of 28%.
Karkala recorded a 25% deficit, with 2,955 mm against the normal 3,917 mm, while Kundapura registered a 14% deficit, receiving 2,740 mm against 3,200 mm. The other taluks also recorded varying degrees of rainfall deficiency.
Sharp contrast with 2025
The figures stand in stark contrast to last year. In August 2025, Udupi had recorded an 8% rainfall deficit. However, the June-August monsoon period ended with 4% excess rainfall, with 3,789 mm recorded against the normal 3,638 mm.
Rainfall from January to the end of August 2025 was also 23% above normal. The district had received 4,728 mm against the normal 3,818 mm during the period.
The contrasting figures underline how sharply rainfall patterns have shifted in Udupi this year, despite the brief spell of heavy rain that raised hopes at the beginning of August.