New Delhi: Call it a changing monsoon pattern or shifting cloud behavior—Delhi has reached its annual rainfall quota for 2025 in just six days of heavy downpour. The city’s rainfall figures have now entered a surplus, with more showers expected in August, and still four months left in the year. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a rare combination of multiple weather systems active over northwest India, aided by a uniformly strong monsoon, is behind this unusual pattern.
Delhi’s annual average rainfall is 774.4 mm, but by Thursday, the city had already recorded 818.1 mm—5.6% above normal. The surprising part: in the first four months of 2025, Delhi saw only 10.5 mm of rainfall. But in May, June, July, and August—just six rainy days—were enough to surpass the yearly average and push the city into surplus.
The breakdown: two days of heavy rain in May, one each in June and July, and two in August. Interestingly, last year too, Delhi had completed its annual rainfall quota by August 30.
Expert Opinions
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet Weather, said that last year’s La Niña conditions boosted the monsoon. This year, conditions are neutral, yet several active weather systems are present over northwest India, keeping the plains saturated with moisture. This has led to frequent light-to-moderate rain and occasional heavy showers.
A senior IMD scientist added that active low-pressure areas and western disturbances were major contributors. “Even our pre-monsoon activity was strong this year, and it has continued well into the monsoon season,” he said.
May Was the Rainiest Month on Record
This May became Delhi’s wettest on record, with 186.4 mm of rainfall—six times the normal average of 30.7 mm.
- June recorded 107.1 mm, 45% above the long-term average of 74.1 mm.
- July saw 259.3 mm, 24% higher than the normal 209.7 mm.
- In just half of August, Delhi has already received 254.8 mm, 9.3% above the normal 233.1 mm for the month.
From Alto-Stratus to Thunderclouds
Around 25 years ago, Delhi’s skies were dominated by alto-stratus clouds—uniform, layered formations that brought steady rainfall over several days. Now, thunderclouds are more common. They are irregular, hold less water, and tend to appear suddenly, thunder loudly, and release heavy rain within hours rather than days.
Six Days of Heavy Rainfall in 2025
| Date | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| May 2 | 77 |
| May 25 | 81.4 |
| June 15 | 42 |
| July 29 | 129.8 |
| August 9 | 79 |
| August 14 | 79.4 |
