Himachal Pradesh logs 29th lowest August rainfall since 1901 at 212.5 mm
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh's August rainfall of 212.5 mm ranks as the 29th lowest in over 120 years of IMD records — and the gap between Kangra's 658 mm and Lahaul-Spiti's 27.8 mm in the same month tells a story of extreme intra-state monsoon disparity that goes beyond the headline deficit figure.
Key Takeaways
Himachal Pradesh received 212.5 mm rainfall in August , its 29th lowest since 1901 , against a normal of 256.8 mm — a deficit of 17 per cent .
The state's wettest August on record was 1927 , with 542.4 mm of rainfall.
Kangra district received the highest precipitation at 658.0 mm ; Lahaul-Spiti received the lowest at 27.8 mm .
Lahaul-Spiti recorded the steepest negative departure at minus 76 per cent ; Sirmaur posted the highest positive departure at plus 17 per cent .
Active monsoon conditions were recorded on 5 days in August; weak activity on 11 days .
Chamba, Hamirpur and Solan received deficient rainfall; remaining districts outside the normal band were classified as large deficient .
Himachal Pradesh recorded its 29th lowest August rainfall since 1901, receiving just 212.5 mm against a normal of 256.8 mm — a deficit of 17 per cent, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday, 1 September. The state's wettest August on record remains 1927, when rainfall peaked at 542.4 mm.
Monsoon Activity Through August
The IMD noted that Himachal Pradesh received scattered to fairly widespread precipitation across many days of the month. Active monsoon conditions were recorded on five days — 5, 7, 11, 19 and 31 August — while weak activity was observed on 11 days, including 2, 3, 9, 13, 14, 21, 25, 27, 28, 29 and 30 August.
Very heavy rainfall was reported at isolated locations in Sirmaur and Bilaspur districts on 4 August, in Sirmaur and Una on 5 August, in Kangra on 15 August, and across Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra on 19 August.
District-Level Rainfall Breakdown
Kangra district received the highest precipitation in the state at 658.0 mm, while Lahaul-Spiti recorded the lowest at just 27.8 mm. In terms of departure from normal, Sirmaur posted the highest positive departure at plus 17 per cent, whereas Lahaul-Spiti saw the steepest shortfall at minus 76 per cent.
Districts classified as having received normal precipitation include Bilaspur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Una. Chamba, Hamirpur and Solan fell under the deficient category, while the remaining districts were marked as large deficient.
Historical Context and Significance
Ranking as the 29th lowest August rainfall in over 120 years of records places this monsoon season in a historically dry bracket, though it does not constitute an extreme drought event by IMD classification. The 17 per cent below-normal figure technically falls within the 'normal' band under IMD's categorisation, which defines normal as between minus 19 per cent and plus 19 per cent of the long-period average.
This comes amid broader concerns about monsoon variability across the Western Himalayas, where erratic rainfall patterns have increasingly disrupted agriculture and water availability. Notably, the wide gap between Kangra's 658.0 mm and Lahaul-Spiti's 27.8 mm within a single state underscores the sharp intra-regional disparity that characterises Himalayan monsoon behaviour.
What to Watch
With the monsoon season extending through September, IMD's subsequent monthly analysis will be critical for assessing cumulative seasonal totals and their impact on Himachal Pradesh's water reservoirs, hydropower generation, and the ongoing apple harvest season. Districts already under large deficiency will be closely monitored for agricultural stress.
Point of View
But that aggregate masks a more troubling reality: Lahaul-Spiti's minus 76 per cent departure points to severe localised dryness in a high-altitude district where water stress has outsized consequences for glacial health and downstream river flows. The 120-year ranking also invites a longer question — whether below-normal August totals are becoming structurally more frequent in the Western Himalayas, a trend that would have serious implications for hydropower-dependent Himachal. A single-month IMD release cannot answer that, but it warrants the framing.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Himachal Pradesh's August 2024 rainfall, and how does it compare historically?
Himachal Pradesh received 212.5 mm of rainfall in August 2024, making it the 29th lowest August total since IMD records began in 1901. The state's all-time August high was 542.4 mm, recorded in 1927.
Which district received the most rainfall in Himachal Pradesh in August?
Kangra district received the highest precipitation in the state at 658.0 mm during August. It was also classified under the normal rainfall category despite the state-wide deficit.
Which district had the worst rainfall deficit in Himachal Pradesh in August?
Lahaul-Spiti district recorded the largest negative departure at minus 76 per cent, with actual rainfall of just 27.8 mm — the lowest among all districts in the state for August.
How did IMD classify Himachal Pradesh's overall August rainfall?
The IMD classified Himachal Pradesh's August rainfall as 'normal', as the 17 per cent below-normal figure falls within the agency's normal band of minus 19 per cent to plus 19 per cent of the long-period average.
Which districts received deficient or large deficient rainfall in Himachal Pradesh in August?
Chamba, Hamirpur, and Solan districts received deficient rainfall, while the remaining districts outside the normal category were classified as large deficient by the IMD for August.
