Pre-Monsoon 2025: District wise rainfall in India

In the just concluded three month pre-monsoon season (March 1 to May 31, 2025) India received 185.8 mm (125.9 mm in Pre-Monsoon 2024, 146.6 mm in Pre Monsoon 2023 [i]) rainfall, 42% above (4 below normal in Pre-Monsoon 2024 and 12% above in Pre Monsoon 2023) the normal rainfall of 130.6 mm as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In 2020[ii] , 2021[iii] and 2022[iv] India received 158.5 mm, 155.2 mm and 130.6 or 20% above normal, 18% above normal and 1% below rainfall respectively. So, India has received the highest pre monsoon season rainfall in 2025 compared to those in previous five years.

Month wise distribution However, when we look at the month-wise distribution of rainfall we find that in March 2025 there was 20.1 mm (28.5, 37.6, 8.9 and 16.7 mm in March 2024, March 2023, March 2022 and March 2021 respectively) or 33% below normal rainfall when normal rainfall was supposed to be 29.9 mm. In April 2024, the rainfall was 31.4 mm (31.4, 41.4, 38.3 and 31 mm in April 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 respectively), 1% below normal rainfall of 39.3 mm. The lion’s share of rainfall of the season was in May 2025, at 126.9 mm (66, 68.6, 83.4 and 107.5 mm respectively in May 2024, May 2023, 2022 and 2021), or massive 107 % above the normal rain of 61.4 mm.

	Actual Rainfall, mm	Normal rainfall, mm	% departure
March 2025	20.1	29.9	-33
April 2025	38.8	39.3	-1
May 2025	126.9	61.4	+107
Pre Monsoon 2025	185.8	130.6	+42

Here it may be noted that IMD declared that monsoon had already entered Kerala and substantially progressed by the end of May 2025. However, the monsoon rainfall till May 31 will be counted for pre monsoon season as IMD counts monsoon rainfall only from June 1 to Sept 30.

The Bar chart below shows the normal vs actual rainfall for the pre-monsoon 2025 season at all India level.

ALL INDIA State wise rainfall distribution During pre-monsoon season 2025, 18 States (and Union Territories) had Large Excess (over 60% in excess of normal rainfall), seven States and UTs (UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, WB, Meghalaya, Chandigarh, A&N Islands) had Excess (20-59% above normal rainfall), six (Sikkim, Diu-Daman-Dadar-Nagahaveli, Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Punjab) states had Normal (between 19% excess and 19% deficit compared to normal), five (Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, HP, J&K) states had Deficit (20 to 59% below normal rainfall), No state had Large Deficit (over 60% below normal) precipitation.

Meghalaya, like in 2023 & 2024, had the highest quantum of rainfall in this season at 982.5 mm, 37% below normal rainfall. However, highest surplus % of rainfall was again recorded by Gujarat at 1264% (204% above normal in Pre-Monsoon 2024) above normal rainfall of 55.9 mm compared to normal rainfall of 4.1 mm.

ALL INDIA Sub Division wise Rainfall distribution As can be seen from the IMD map below, out of 36 meteorological sub divisions of IMD, 23 had large Excess, Six had Excess, four had Normal, Three had deficit rainfall and only None had large deficit rainfall in pre monsoon 2025 season.

Saurashtra again recorded the highest surplus % rainfall at 1462% with rainfall of 48.4 mm compared to normal rainfall of 3.1 mm. J&K and Ladakh recorded the highest deficit at 32% with 225 mm rainfall compared to normal rainfall of 330 mm. With 776.5 mm rainfall, Kerala recorded the highest rainfall, which was 116% above normal.

ALL INDIA River Basin wise Rainfall Distribution Not available on IMD website for the relevant period.

STATE WISE DISTRICT WISE RAINFALL: Map below shows the all India district map with rainfall status marked in IMD’s standard colour code.