Meghalaya monsoon deficit hits 74% — highest in Northeast, IMD data shows
Synopsis
Meghalaya — home to Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, the world's wettest places — received just 192.9 mm of rain in June against a normal of 750.8 mm, a 74% deficit that is the worst in the Northeast. The anomaly is raising alarms over kharif crop losses, groundwater stress, and accelerating climate change in the ecologically fragile hill state.
Key Takeaways
Meghalaya recorded a 74 per cent monsoon rainfall deficit between 1 June and 1 July 2025 — the highest among all northeastern states, per IMD .
The state received only 192.9 mm of rainfall against a normal of 750.8 mm , placing it in the 'large deficient' category.
On 1 July alone, the deficit reached nearly 90 per cent — just 3 mm recorded against a normal of 28.7 mm .
Manipur (71%), Nagaland (51%), and Arunachal Pradesh (45%) also logged significant deficits; Sikkim alone recorded a 15% surplus .
The shortfall threatens the kharif season , with experts warning of delayed sowing, reduced soil moisture, and lower crop yields.
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Environment Committee Chairman Rakkam A.
Sangma has linked the pattern to climate change and called for intensified conservation efforts.
Meghalaya, home to two of the world's wettest places, has recorded the steepest monsoon rainfall deficit among all northeastern states this season, with precipitation running 74 per cent below normal, according to the latest data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Officials confirmed the figures on Thursday, 2 July, placing the hill state firmly in the 'large deficient' category.
How Severe the Shortfall Is
IMD data shows Meghalaya received only 192.9 mm of rainfall between 1 June and 1 July, against a normal of 750.8 mm for the same period — a gap of more than 557 mm. On 1 July alone, the state recorded just 3 mm against the normal 28.7 mm, marking a single-day deficit of nearly 90 per cent.
The deficit is especially striking given that Meghalaya is home to Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram — globally recognised as among the highest-rainfall locations on earth. That these very areas are now logging some of the driest June figures on record underscores the scale of the anomaly.
Northeast India's Broader Rainfall Picture
Across East and Northeast India as a whole, the cumulative rainfall deficit stood at 40 per cent during the same period, according to IMD. Within the region, Meghalaya registered the highest shortfall, followed by Manipur at 71 per cent, Nagaland at 51 per cent, and Arunachal Pradesh at 45 per cent. Sikkim was the sole northeastern state to receive above-normal rainfall, posting a 15 per cent surplus.
Impact on Agriculture and Water Resources
The rainfall shortfall has arrived at a critical juncture for the kharif season, with farmers across the state engaged in paddy cultivation and horticulture. Experts warn that a prolonged dry spell could delay sowing, deplete soil moisture, and suppress crop yields if conditions do not improve in the coming weeks.
Environmental specialists have additionally cautioned that deficient monsoon rainfall risks reducing river flows, hampering groundwater recharge, and straining the state's biodiversity. The tourism sector — which draws thousands of visitors to Meghalaya specifically during the monsoon months — faces indirect pressure as well.
Climate Change Concerns Resurface
The deficit has reignited debate over shifting climatic patterns in the region. On World Environment Day last month, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Environment Committee Chairman Rakkam A. Sangma cautioned that the state was already experiencing rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and growing water scarcity. He urged citizens, communities, and institutions to step up conservation efforts, including afforestation and protection of natural water sources, to cushion the long-term effects of climate change.
This comes amid a broader pattern of erratic monsoon behaviour across northeastern India, and experts say the situation in Meghalaya warrants close monitoring through the remainder of the season.
Point of View
It is a pattern consistent with the erratic monsoon behaviour that climate scientists have been flagging for the northeastern highlands. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the cascading risk: kharif disruption feeds into rural distress, groundwater depletion compounds the next dry year, and biodiversity loss in these ecologically sensitive hills is rarely reversible. The state government's conservation appeals are welcome, but afforestation drives cannot substitute for systemic climate adaptation policy.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meghalaya's monsoon rainfall deficit in 2025?
Meghalaya recorded a 74 per cent rainfall deficit between 1 June and 1 July 2025, receiving only 192.9 mm against a normal of 750.8 mm, according to IMD data. This is the highest deficit among all northeastern states this monsoon season.
Why is Meghalaya's rainfall deficit significant?
Meghalaya is home to Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram, globally recognised as among the wettest places on earth, making a 74% deficit especially anomalous. The shortfall also threatens the ongoing kharif season, water resources, and the state's ecologically sensitive environment.
How does Meghalaya's deficit compare with other northeastern states?
Meghalaya's 74% deficit is the highest in the Northeast, followed by Manipur at 71%, Nagaland at 51%, and Arunachal Pradesh at 45%. Sikkim was the only northeastern state to record above-normal rainfall, with a 15% surplus.
What is the impact on farming in Meghalaya?
The deficit has hit at a critical stage of the kharif season, with paddy cultivation and horticulture underway across the state. Experts warn that a prolonged dry spell could delay sowing, reduce soil moisture, and lower crop yields if rainfall does not recover soon.
Is climate change linked to Meghalaya's rainfall decline?
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Environment Committee Chairman Rakkam A. Sangma said on World Environment Day that the state is experiencing rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing water scarcity linked to climate change. He called for stronger afforestation and protection of natural water sources.
