IMD Declares 2025 Monsoon “Very Successful” with 937 mm Rainfall
India’s monsoon ends with 8% surplus, regional disparities persist.
The 2025 monsoon season concluded on Tuesday, leaving India drenched with an 8% surplus in rainfall, recording 937.2 mm against the normal 868.6 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Described as a “very successful” season by IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the four-month period from June to September brought abundant rain but was marred by devastating natural disasters, including cloudbursts, landslides, and mudslides that claimed lives and disrupted communities across the country.
While the national rainfall figures paint a positive picture, stark regional variations tell a more complex story. Northwest India emerged as the standout, receiving a hefty 747.9 mm—27.3% above the normal 587.6 mm—marking the highest rainfall in the region since 2001 and the sixth highest since 1901. “All districts in northwest India saw above-normal rainfall in June, August, and September,” Mohapatra noted during an online press conference, attributing the surplus to favorable weather patterns.
Central India also fared well, logging 1125.3 mm, a 15.1% increase over the normal 978 mm, while the southern peninsula recorded 9.9% more rainfall than its typical 716.2 mm. These regions benefited from consistent monsoon activity, bolstering agriculture and water reserves. However, east and northeast India faced a starkly different reality, grappling with a 20% rainfall deficit at 1089.9 mm compared to the normal 1367.3 mm. This marks the second-lowest monsoon rainfall in the region since 1901, with 2013 holding the record at 1065.7 mm.
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Mohapatra highlighted a troubling trend: “Rainfall over east and northeast India has been deficient in many recent years, with a noticeable decline since 2020.” States like Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya experienced below-normal rainfall for three of the four monsoon months, raising concerns about water scarcity and agricultural impacts. Studies indicate a broader decline in rainfall in this region over the past two decades, potentially linked to shifting climate patterns.
The surplus rainfall nationally has been a boon for farmers, replenishing reservoirs and supporting crop growth in key agricultural belts. However, the season’s extreme weather events—cloudbursts in hilly areas, landslides in the north, and mudslides in vulnerable regions—have underscored the challenges of managing monsoon variability. Mohapatra emphasized the need for improved disaster preparedness, noting that while the monsoon delivered vital water resources, its intensity caught many regions off guard.
As India reflects on a monsoon season of contrasts—abundance in some areas, scarcity in others—the IMD’s data highlights the urgency of addressing regional disparities and building resilience against climate-driven extremes. With the season now over, attention turns to post-monsoon planning, from water management to recovery efforts in disaster-hit areas, as the nation braces for the next chapter in its ever-evolving weather saga.
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