Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Meghalaya just endured its hottest year since records began in 1901. The annual mean temperature hit 20.77 degrees Celsius in 2025. This figure sits 0.96 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 long-period average. Both maximum and minimum temperatures stayed consistently high. The last five years now rank as the state's warmest on record.
The India Meteorological Department released these findings in its Statement on Climate for Meghalaya: 2025. Experts from the Pune office prepared the data with the state government. Their research shows the annual mean temperature climbed at a rate of 0.73 degrees Celsius per century since 1901. Maximum temperatures are rising faster than minimum ones.
The southwest monsoon proved particularly intense this year. Temperatures spiked 1.2 degrees above normal, marking the warmest monsoon season in history. Yet, the rain failed to follow suit. The state saw a 43 percent deficit in monsoon rainfall. Overall, the southwest monsoon delivered only 57 percent of its expected precipitation. This season usually accounts for 71.8 percent of the annual total. Excess pre-monsoon rain softened the blow, but the state still lagged.
District results varied wildly. The report states, "The coexistence of deficient seasonal rainfall and episodes of extreme precipitation highlights the uneven distribution and intensity of rainfall across the state." Out of 11 districts, six faced deficient rainfall. South West Khasi Hills saw large excess precipitation, while West Jaintia Hills dealt with large deficiencies. The Standardised Precipitation Index suggests most of the region experienced some level of dryness.
Extreme weather persisted despite the overall shortfall. Stations in Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, and Shillong tracked heavy, very heavy, and extremely heavy rainfall events. Some spots logged over 204.5 mm of rain in a single 24-hour window. The year also brought floods, lightning, thunderstorms, gales, and hailstorms. The report serves as a planning guide for water management and agriculture, though it stops short of measuring impacts on local livelihoods or crop yields.
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