Multiple Factors Influence Monsoon Behavior: IMD Director
Vijayawada: As the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season begins, disaster management institutions and government departments have been advised to use early warning systems effectively to minimize loss of life and property.
The call was made by IMD director general M Mohapatra on Tuesday.
Addressing a stakeholder conference on “Southwest Monsoon 2026 outlook – preparedness and multi-hazard weather warning services” through video conferencing in New Delhi, Mohapatra emphasized the need for coordinated action across government departments to combat weather-related disasters. The conference was jointly organized by IMD and national disaster management institute at NIDM south campus at Adavinekkalam near Gannavaram.
Mohapatra said that the monsoon season has officially started, which will last from June 1 to September 30. The monsoon entered the Andaman Sea and the southern Bay of Bengal as early as 16 May. He said climate-related large-scale systems such as El Niño, La Niña, Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) influence monsoon behavior and cause differences in rainfall patterns, floods and droughts across regions.
He said that more than 90 per cent of the 13-14 low pressure systems that form over the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season originate from the North Bay. These systems generally move westward along the monsoon trough, bringing heavy rainfall to north coastal AP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
The Godavari and Krishna river basins in AP are particularly vulnerable.
Highlighting the role of advanced forecasting tools, Mohapatra said IMD’s Decision Support System provides access to rainfall data, seven-day forecasts and impact-based forecasts at district and mandal level. He urged citizens and farmers to use mobile apps such as Mausam, Mausam Gram and Crop Weather for timely weather advisories and crop-specific guidance.
ICAR-CRIDA founder and former professor BV Ramana Rao stated that India suffers huge economic losses due to cyclones, floods, droughts and tsunamis, and emphasized the need for scientific research and vulnerability mapping to reduce disaster risks.
Regional meteorological center chief Chennai and chairman D Sivananda Pai called for integrated action to make Andhra Pradesh a “climate smart state”.
NDRF 10th battalion commander VVN Prasanna Kumar said improved forecasting and coordination have significantly reduced disaster-related losses over the years. Col P Srinivasulu Reddy, joint director, NIDM south campus, emphasized that every rupee spent on preparedness can save many times more in post-disaster recovery costs.
Scientists, disaster management experts and senior officials from various government departments attended the seminar, which also included technical presentations on monsoon forecasts, cyclone warnings and disaster management strategies.
