The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially confirmed the onset of El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, warning of a potentially weaker monsoon season.
According to the IMD, sea surface temperatures in the central tropical Pacific have crossed the El Niño threshold, and atmospheric conditions have responded to the warming ocean waters.
El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen further during the Southwest Monsoon season, which could suppress rainfall across the country.
The IMD had previously forecast a weaker monsoon, with this year's monsoon rainfall projected to be 90% of the long-period average.
India's weather office had not yet made the same declaration, but had said that the threshold was close.
The announcement comes as the southwest monsoon made further progress on Friday, but under the influence of a western disturbance, a wet spell is likely to continue over northwest India till June 13.
