Monthly Mean Rainfall in India from 2001 to 2023

The data clearly shows India’s monsoon-dominated rainfall pattern. The highest rainfall consistently occurs during the months of June, July, and August, which aligns with the typical Southwest Monsoon season. July stands out as the peak rainfall month across most years, often recording mean rainfall values above 250 mm. There’s a noticeable variability in rainfall intensity from year to year. For instance, July 2005 saw an exceptionally high mean rainfall of 334.2 mm, while July 2009 recorded a lower, but still substantial, 280.5 mm. This inter-annual variability highlights the complex nature of monsoon patterns and their sensitivity to various climatic factors. The pre-monsoon months (April and May) generally show increasing rainfall trends as they approach the monsoon season. However, the intensity of pre-monsoon showers varies considerably between years. For example, May 2015 recorded a high of 68.8 mm, while May 2002 saw only 61.4 mm. Post-monsoon months (September and October) typically show a gradual decrease in rainfall. September often retains significant rainfall, sometimes comparable to June, before a sharp decline in October. This pattern reflects the retreating monsoon phase. The winter months (November to February) consistently show the lowest rainfall across all years. However, there are occasional spikes, such as in February 2003 with 45.6 mm, which could indicate unusual weather events or climate anomalies. Looking at long-term trends, there’s no clear indication of a consistent increase or decrease in overall rainfall over the 23-year period. However, there are signs of increasing variability, particularly in the monsoon months. For instance, the July rainfall shows wide fluctuations in recent years, from 327.2 mm in 2022 to 162.7 mm in August 2023. Extreme rainfall events seem to be more frequent in recent years. For example, May 2021 recorded an unusually high 107.8 mm of rain, which is significantly above the typical May values in other years. The data also reveals some interesting anomalies, such as the relatively low monsoon rainfall in 2009 compared to other years, which could correspond to drought conditions that year. Overall, this dataset underscores the complexity and variability of India’s rainfall patterns. It highlights the critical importance of the monsoon season to India’s water resources and agriculture, while also pointing to potential challenges in water management due to the high variability in rainfall from year to year and month to month. The data suggests a need for robust water management strategies and climate adaptation measures to cope with both excess rainfall and potential drought conditions.