Nearly 4,000 kilometres away, India’s monsoon could be affected by the increasingly active weather pattern across the Pacific Ocean.
The changing atmospheric conditions over the Pacific may influence the circulation patterns linked to the Indian monsoon.
Such intense activity can affect the circulation patterns that are connected with the Indian monsoon.
Typhoon Dolphin And India’s RainfallTyphoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province on August 9, bringing sustained winds of around 151 kmph.
Research has found a strong link between Pacific convection, atmospheric circulation and changes in the Indian monsoon.
News world Typhoon Dolphin Batters China: Here's How The Storm Is Impacting India's Monsoon From 4,000 KM Away
Typhoon Dolphin Batters China: Here's How The Storm Is Impacting India's Monsoon From 4,000 KM Away
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Last Updated: August 10, 2026, 22:14 IST
Typhoon Dolphin: Disturbances developing over the western North Pacific can travel westwards and contribute to the formation of low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal
Typhoon Dolphin: Aftermath of typhoon in China (Credits: Reuters)
Typhoon Dolphin: Typhoon Dolphin has brought torrential rain and powerful winds to eastern China, after making landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province on August 9. The storm, the strongest tropical cyclone to hit China so far this year, had sustained winds of around 151 kmph and prompted the evacuation of more than a million people amid widespread flooding risks.
But the impact of the storm could extend far beyond China. Nearly 4,000 kilometres away, India’s monsoon could be affected by the increasingly active weather pattern across the Pacific Ocean.
The changing atmospheric conditions over the Pacific may influence the circulation patterns linked to the Indian monsoon. The concern comes as monsoon cloud cover has declined across several areas, including the Bay of Bengal, while fewer organised rain-bearing systems have been developing over India.
Why The Pacific Matters For India’s Monsoon
The current weather pattern over the Pacific is important because activity in the region can influence large-scale atmospheric circulation extending towards the Indian Ocean.
Satellite images have shown several weather systems developing across the tropical and western Pacific. Such intense activity can affect the circulation patterns that are connected with the Indian monsoon.
This is where El Nino-type conditions become significant. Under such conditions, tropical convection and rising air can shift eastwards towards the Pacific. This may change the Walker circulation and atmospheric waves reaching the Indian Ocean, potentially reducing convection and weakening processes that help drive India’s rain-bearing systems.
Typhoon Dolphin And India’s Rainfall
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province on August 9, bringing sustained winds of around 151 kmph. More than a million people were evacuated as eastern China faced the risk of widespread flooding.
However, the impact on India is not about Dolphin directly taking away rainfall from the country. Instead, the typhoon is part of a broader pattern of intense atmospheric activity across the Pacific.
Research has found a strong link between Pacific convection, atmospheric circulation and changes in the Indian monsoon.
Could Pacific Disturbances Help The Monsoon?
The relationship is not straightforward. Pacific weather systems can sometimes have the opposite effect and help India’s monsoon.
Disturbances developing over the western North Pacific can travel westwards and contribute to the formation of low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal, which plays an important role in India’s monsoon rainfall.
Research suggests that more than one-third of monsoon low-pressure systems can develop through the downstream amplification of Pacific disturbances. Some tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific can also act as atmospheric triggers.
Pacific Activity Could Decide India’s Next Monsoon Phase
The highly active Pacific therefore presents a mixed picture for India. On one hand, disturbances could move westwards and help generate new systems over the Bay of Bengal. On the other, an unfavourable El Nino-like circulation could suppress convection over the Indian monsoon region.
Signs of the latter are already being observed, with monsoon cloud cover declining across large areas, including the Bay of Bengal, while fewer organised rain-bearing systems are forming over India.
The key question is whether Pacific disturbances will eventually help create a fresh low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal or whether the El Nino-like circulation will continue to weaken the Indian monsoon.
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About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More
First Published: August 10, 2026, 22:14 IST
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