Dr. Akshay Deoras
Senior Research Scientist in Indian Monsoon variability and high-impact weather (NCAS)
Research Interests
- Dynamics and variability of monsoon systems
- Extreme precipitation events and heatwave processes
- Subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecasting
Education
- PhD, Atmosphere, Oceans & Climate – University of Reading (2018–2022)
- MRes, Climate & Atmospheric Science – University of Leeds (2016–2017)
Professional & Government Engagement
- Invited expert contributor to the UK Government Office for Science roundtable on the impacts of El Niño on the UK (June 2026)
- Reviewer for major international atmospheric science journals
Media & Public Engagement
- Globally recognised media voice on extreme weather, monsoon variability and climate impacts
- Contributor to the Channel 5 documentary The Pile-Up: Death on the Motorway, examining the UK M5 motorway crash and the role of weather conditions
Awards & Recognition
- Finalist – STEM for Britain (2025), invited to showcase research on monsoon systems at the House of Commons, UK
- American Geophysical Union Outstanding Reviewer (2022)
- Best Oral Presentation – RMetS Student Conference (2020)
- Government of Maharashtra, India PhD Scholarship (~£90k)
Research Projects
- DRENCH – Depression-driven extreme precipitation (2025–present)
- OUTBREAK – Breaks in rainfall and air quality (2024–present)
- MiLCMOP – Mid-latitude controls on monsoon (2023–2025)
- EUPHEMISMS_CO – Monsoon storms consolidation (2024–2025)
Teaching
-
MTMG25 Hazardous Weather Analysis, University of Reading (2023–2024)
– Demonstrator (marking and student support)
– Guest lecturer: Indian monsoon low-pressure systems -
MTMG01 Introduction to Weather Systems, University of Reading (2022–2023)
– Demonstrator (marking and student support)
– Guest lecturer: Convective storms
Student supervision
-
Jamie Todd (PhD, 2026–present)
University of Reading
Co-supervisor – Simulating monsoon systems at the kilometre scale -
Tanmay Sonawane (MSc, 2026)
University of Reading
Lead supervisor – Understanding air quality in India during monsoon breaks -
Divyam Singh Aswal (MSc, 2026–present)
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali
Co-supervisor – Moist heat extremes in India -
Pranay Chakraborty (MSc, 2026–present)
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali
Co-supervisor – Diurnal variability of moist heat in India -
Hamraz H (MSc, 2026–present)
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali
Co-supervisor – Predictability of moist heat extremes in India -
Nindya Pradita (MSc, 2025)
University of Reading
Lead supervisor – Progression of the Indian Summer Monsoon in S2S forecasts -
Maia Arama (UROP, 2024)
University of Reading
Co-supervisor – Characteristics of clouds during the Indian summer monsoon
Centaur Publications
2026
Deoras, A. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5407-6520, Hunt, K. M. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1480-3755 and Turner, A. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0642-6876
(2026)
The role of soil moisture in the inland penetration of Indian monsoon low-pressure systems.
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 152 (776).
e70095.
ISSN 1477-870X
doi: 10.1002/qj.70095
Deoras, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5407-6520, Turner, A. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0642-6876, Volonté, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0278-952X, Schiemann, R. K. H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3095-9856, Wilcox, L. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5691-1493 and Menon, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9347-0578
(2026)
The role of dry intrusions in breaks of the Indian summer monsoon.
Journal of Climate, 39 (5).
pp. 1237-1250.
ISSN 1520-0442
doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-25-0004.1
Deoras, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5407-6520, Turner, A. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0642-6876, Lekshmi, S., Birch, C. E., Volonté, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0278-952X, Menon, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9347-0578, Schiemann, R. K. H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3095-9856 and Wilcox, L. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5691-1493
(2026)
Anatomy of moist heatwaves in India during the summer monsoon season.
Climate Dynamics, 64 (3).
103.
ISSN 1432-0894
doi: 10.1007/s00382-025-08023-w
2024
Deoras, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5407-6520, Turner, A. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0642-6876, Volonté, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0278-952X and Menon, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9347-0578
(2024)
The role of midlatitude dry air during the withdrawal of the Indian summer monsoon.
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 150 (765).
pp. 5094-5112.
ISSN 1477-870X
doi: 10.1002/qj.4859
2023
Deoras, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5407-6520, Turner, A. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0642-6876, Hunt, K. M. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1480-3755 and Priyanthika Jayawardena, I. M. S.
(2023)
The influence of weather patterns and the Madden-Julian Oscillation on extreme precipitation over Sri Lanka.
Geophysical Research Letters, 50 (14).
e2023GL103727.
ISSN 0094-8276
doi: 10.1029/2023GL103727
Last update: 22nd April 2026
