Shillong: Meghalaya sweltered through its warmest year since 1901 in 2025. The India Meteorological Department confirmed the annual mean temperature hit 20.77 degrees Celsius. This sits 0.96 degrees above the long-period average calculated between 1991 and 2020. The numbers reflect a dangerous trend. The annual minimum temperature reached a record high, while maximum temperatures hit their third highest levels in history.
The state experienced five of its warmest years in just the last five seasons. Long-term records show a warming rate of 0.73 degrees Celsius per century. Heat climbed higher during the southwest monsoon, marking it as the warmest on record. The IMD report noted, "The warming was particularly pronounced during the southwest monsoon season, when maximum temperatures were 1.2 degrees above normal, making it the warmest monsoon season on record in terms of maximum temperature since 1901."
Rainfall dropped sharply. The state received only 73 percent of its expected annual precipitation. The crucial southwest monsoon season, typically responsible for 71.8 percent of annual rain, delivered a mere 57 percent of normal levels. High pre-monsoon rains masked some of this annual deficit. Dryness dominated the months between June and October, with July seeing the steepest decline in precipitation.
District records show uneven conditions. Out of 11 districts, six faced rainfall deficits while three saw normal levels. South West Khasi Hills saw large excess rain, but West Jaintia Hills dealt with large deficiencies. The Standardised Precipitation Index showed dryness across nearly the entire state. Even with the overall lack of rain, intense weather slammed the region. Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, and Shillong reported periods of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.5 mm within 24 hours. The year also brought damaging floods, lightning, thunderstorms, and hailstorms.
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