India records wettest May since 1901 with 126.7mm rainfall: IMD report

New Delhi: India recorded its wettest May since 1901, with an average rainfall of 126.7mm last month, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The unusually high rainfall was attributed to the early onset of the southwest monsoon, which brought sustained showers across southern and eastern parts of the country.

In a 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.”

Rainfall during May 2025 was 106 per cent above the Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm. The IMD noted in its official release:

“Rainfall over the country as a whole for the month of May 2025 was 126.7mm, which is 106% more than its Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm.”

Regionally, South Peninsular India received 199.7 mm of rainfall, the second-highest since 1901, surpassed only by 201.4 mm in 1990. Northwest India recorded 48.1 mm — the 13th highest since 1901 and the 4th highest since 2001. East and Northeast India saw 242.8 mm of rainfall, the 29th highest since 1901 and the 4th highest since 2001.

• 25 meteorological subdivisions received large excess rainfall,

• Five received excess rainfall, and

• Six saw normal rainfall.

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

Very heavy rainfall (115.6–204.4 mm) occurred in regions including 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.

Heavy rainfall events (64.5–115.5 mm) were observed across 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.

The IMD also recorded seven Western Disturbances (WDs) during the month, which triggered frequent rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and hailstorms across the Western Himalayan region and the plains of northwest and central India.

Unseasonal weather activity also kept temperatures in check. The IMD stated:

“The average maximum, average minimum, and mean temperature for the country as a whole during May were 35.08°C, 24.07°C, and 29.57°C respectively, against the normal of 36.60°C, 24.17°C, and 30.38°C based on data from 1991–2020.”

This indicates temperatures were below normal, with departures of:

• Maximum: -1.52°C

• Minimum: -0.10°C

•Mean: -0.81°C

This year, the Southwest Monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, eight days earlier than its usual onset date of June 1 — setting the tone for the unusually wet month that followed.