Meghalaya temperature reached its highest recorded level in 2025, making it the warmest year in the state since 1901, according to a new report by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The annual mean temperature climbed to 20.77 degrees Celsius, marking a significant rise above the long-term average.
The findings also reveal an unusual combination of record warmth and declining rainfall during the southwest monsoon. While temperatures continued to rise, Meghalaya received substantially less monsoon rainfall than normal. The assessment highlights changing weather patterns and their implications for the northeastern state’s climate.
Meghalaya temperature breaks a 124-year record
According to the IMD’s Statement on Climate for Meghalaya: 2025, the state’s annual mean temperature reached 20.77 degrees Celsius. This was 0.96 degrees Celsius above the long-period average for 1991–2020.
The report confirms that 2025 was the warmest year in Meghalaya’s recorded climate history, based on observations dating back to 1901. Moreover, both maximum and minimum temperatures remained above normal during much of the year.
The annual minimum temperature reached its highest level in the 124-year record. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature ranked third highest since 1901.
The five warmest years recorded in Meghalaya were 2025, 2023, 2024, 2021 and 2022. This ranking indicates that several of the state’s warmest years have occurred recently.
The findings place Meghalaya’s changing temperature pattern within a longer period of recorded climate observations.
Long-term Meghalaya temperature trends show rising warmth
The IMD assessment also examined how Meghalaya temperature has changed over more than a century.
Between 1901 and 2025, the state’s annual mean temperature increased at a rate of 0.73 degrees Celsius per century. However, the report found different rates of warming for maximum and minimum temperatures.
Maximum temperatures increased by 0.85 degrees Celsius per century. In comparison, minimum temperatures rose by 0.62 degrees Celsius per century.
Furthermore, the southwest monsoon season recorded particularly high temperatures. Maximum temperatures during this period were 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal.
As a result, 2025 became the warmest monsoon season on record in terms of maximum temperature since 1901. This development adds another significant finding to the state’s long-term climate record.
The figures highlight a sustained warming trend rather than an isolated increase during a single season.
Monsoon rainfall falls 43 per cent below normal
Despite the record warmth, Meghalaya experienced a substantial rainfall shortage in 2025. The state received only 57 per cent of its normal southwest monsoon rainfall, representing a 43 per cent deficit.
The southwest monsoon contributes approximately 71.8 per cent of Meghalaya’s annual rainfall. Therefore, the shortfall represented a significant departure from the state’s usual seasonal rainfall pattern.
Overall, the state received 73 per cent of its annual long-period average rainfall. Excess precipitation during the pre-monsoon season helped partly offset the deficit.
However, rainfall remained predominantly below normal between June and October. July recorded the highest rainfall deficiency during this period.
The winter, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons also experienced deficient rainfall. Consequently, the excess pre-monsoon rainfall could not fully compensate for the shortage.
These contrasting conditions make the 2025 Meghalaya climate assessment particularly significant.
District-wise Meghalaya climate conditions vary
The report also identified considerable differences in rainfall distribution across Meghalaya’s 11 districts.
Six districts received deficient rainfall, while three recorded normal precipitation. One district experienced large excess rainfall, whereas another recorded a large rainfall deficiency.
South West Khasi Hills received large excess rainfall during the year. In contrast, West Jaintia Hills experienced a large deficiency.
Additionally, the IMD used the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) to assess wet and dry conditions across the state. The analysis indicated mildly wet conditions only in East Garo Hills. The remaining districts experienced varying degrees of dryness.
A longer-term rainfall analysis covering 1951 to 2024 also revealed contrasting patterns. Three adjoining districts in western Meghalaya showed an increasing rainfall trend. However, the remaining districts recorded declining trends. Data for five districts were unavailable for this assessment.
These differences suggest that rainfall changes are not uniform across the state.
Extreme weather adds to Meghalaya’s climate concerns
Despite the overall rainfall shortage, several parts of Meghalaya experienced intense rainfall events during 2025. The IMD documented heavy, very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall at multiple monitoring stations.
Cherrapunji, Mawsynram and Shillong were among the locations that recorded these events. Some places received more than 204.5 millimetres of rainfall within 24 hours. This amount meets the IMD’s threshold for extremely heavy rainfall.
Moreover, the assessment documented floods, lightning, thunderstorms, gale and hailstorm-related events during the year.
The combination of deficient seasonal rainfall and episodes of intense precipitation highlights the uneven distribution of rainfall across Meghalaya. A seasonal rainfall shortage does not necessarily prevent individual locations from experiencing extreme downpours.
The findings also underline the importance of understanding both temperature changes and rainfall patterns when assessing regional climate conditions.
The IMD prepared the assessment through its Climate Research and Services office in Pune, in collaboration with the Meghalaya government. The report aims to provide scientific information for planning in agriculture, water management, power, healthcare and disaster management.
Overall, Meghalaya’s record warmth in 2025 and the significant monsoon rainfall deficit present important findings for future climate planning. Continued monitoring of temperature trends, rainfall distribution and extreme weather events will help authorities understand changing conditions and strengthen preparedness across the state.