Gurgaon: Haryana received just 30.5 mm of rainfall in June 2026, falling 44% short of the normal figure of 54.7mm, according to the latest report from IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh. The shortfall marks one of the weaker starts to the monsoon season in recent years for the state, which typically sees June mark the beginning of the four-month monsoon period.Gurgaon fared only marginally better than the state average, recording 29.9 mm against a normal of 47.1 mm — a deficit of 37%. The numbers place the city firmly in the “large deficient” category on IMD’s rainfall classification.The worst-hit districts were concentrated in northern Haryana. Ambala recorded the steepest deficit at -86%, receiving just 16.7 mm against a normal of 117.9 mm — its lowest June rainfall in at least 26 years. Yamuna Nagar (-76%) and Panchkula (-76%) followed closely, with Faridabad, Panipat and Rohtak each posting deficits above 55%.A handful of districts bucked the trend. Mahendragarh recorded a slight surplus (+8%), while Bhiwani (+1%) was effectively normal. Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad and Hisar saw comparatively modest shortfalls of under 10%, suggesting the deficit was unevenly distributed across the state.Haryana’s all-time high for June was 196mm in 2008, with this year’s 30.5mm ranking among the lower totals of the past decade, though not the absolute lowest — 2009 (15.3mm) and 2019 (18.9mm) were drier.On the month’s temperature front, Hisar logged the highest maximum temperature at 44.8°C on June 10, though this remained below its 10-year high of 47.2°C in 2024. Ambala and Karnal also peaked around 43.5°C on the same date, pointing to a shared heat spike across the state.Vishwas Chitale, fellow at CEEW, a Delhi-based thinktank, said, “The rainfall deficit reflects both short-term monsoon dynamics and a longer-term trend of increasing rainfall variability. The southwest monsoon has witnessed a prolonged pause after its initial onset, resulting in substantial rainfall deficits across large parts of north and central India.”“For Haryana, where June rainfall is already limited and crucial for soil moisture build-up and kharif sowing preparations, a 44% deficit can delay agricultural activities, increase dependence on irrigation, and heighten concerns around groundwater use and water availability. In rapidly urbanising regions such as Gurgaon, rainfall deficits can also exacerbate heat stress by reducing evaporative cooling and increasing temperatures in built-up areas,” Chitale added.Analysis by CEEW shows many tehsils across Haryana have experienced a decline in southwest monsoon rainfall over the last four decades. “Gurgaon has recorded a nearly 5% decline compared to the historical baseline,” Chitale said.
