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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that May 2025 was the wettest since records began in 1901, with the country receiving an average of 126.7 mm of rainfall. This historic rainfall was driven by the early arrival of the southwest monsoon. The total rainfall in May 2025 was 126.7 mm, representing a 106 percent increase over the Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm.

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In a social media post on X, the IMD wrote, "The average monthly rainfall for May 2025 over All-India (126.7 mm) and Central India (100.9 mm) was the highest since 1901."

An official press release from the IMD reads, "Rainfall over the country as a whole for the month of May 2025 was 126.7 mm, which is 106% more than its Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm."

"The average monthly rainfall for May 2025 over All-India (126.7 mm) and Central India (100.9 mm) was the highest since 1901. While the monthly rainfall over South Peninsular India reached 199.7 mm, marking the second highest total since 1901, it was surpassed only by 201.4 mm recorded in 1990. Similarly, the monthly average rainfall over Northwest India (48.1 mm) was the 13th highest since 1901 and the 4th highest since 2001. The monthly rainfall over the East & Northeast India region was 242.8 mm, which is the 29th highest since 1901 and the 4th highest since 2001," it added.

State Wise Rainfall Record 

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), May 2025 witnessed widespread rainfall variations across the country. A total of 25 meteorological subdivisions recorded large excess rainfall, five saw excess rain, and six experienced normal rainfall levels.

States With Extremely Heavy Rainfall

Extremely heavy rainfall, totaling 204.4 mm, was reported along the West Coast, as well as in regions such as Assam and Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Madhya Maharashtra, and South Interior Karnataka.

States Recorded Very Heavy Rainfall 

Very heavy rainfall (115.6–204.4 mm) occurred in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, East Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Marathwada, North Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema, Saurashtra and Kutch, Telangana, Vidarbha, and West Madhya Pradesh.

States With Heavy Rainfall 

Heavy rainfall (64.5–115.5 mm) was observed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Gujarat Region, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and West Uttar Pradesh.

Thunderstorms And Hailstorms

The IMD reported the occurrence of seven Western Disturbances (WDs) over the Indian region in May. These systems led to frequent rain and thunderstorms, often accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorms, particularly over the Western Himalayan region and parts of northwest and central India.

Thunderstorm activity with gusty winds was common across much of the country throughout the month. Temperatures remained below normal, with the average maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures all registering lower than usual for May.

Significantly, the Southwest Monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, eight days ahead of its typical onset date of June 1.

The release reads, "The average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during May were 35.08oC, 24.07oC and 29.57oC respectively, against the normal of 36.60oC, 24.17oC and 30.38oC based on data of 1991-2020. Thus, the average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature were below normal with departure from normal of -1.52oC, -0.10oC and -0.81oC, respectively, for the country as a whole."

Death And Casualties In May 2025

In May, various extreme weather events, including lightning and thunderstorms, heavy rains and floods, gales, and hailstorms, resulted in significant human and livestock casualties across India. According to media reports, around 260 people lost their lives, over 85 were injured, and approximately 1,200 livestock perished due to these hazards. 

Lightning and thunderstorms were the most deadly, causing 199 deaths across states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir. 

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Heavy rains and floods led to 58 fatalities, primarily in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Delhi. 

Gales accounted for two deaths in Jammu and Kashmir, while a hailstorm claimed one life in Uttar Pradesh.

(With ANI Inputs)

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