Shimla, Sept 1 — Himachal Pradesh has recorded its wettest August in 76 years, with rainfall 68 percent above normal, according to the Meteorological Department. The unusually heavy monsoon has made August 2025 the ninth wettest August since 1901, breaking a four-year streak of rainfall deficits in the state.
The hill state received an average of 431.3 mm of rain against the normal 256.8 mm, officials said. The last time Himachal witnessed such intensity was in 1927, when 542.4 mm fell in a single month. By contrast, August rainfall had remained below normal in recent years, including a deficit of 44 percent in 2021.
Most districts reported far above normal rainfall this August. Kangra topped the charts with 816.2 mm compared to a normal of 631.5 mm, while Una registered 815.1 mm against 372.2 mm. Mandi (667.9 mm against 395.3 mm), Solan (627.9 mm against 287.9 mm), Hamirpur (617.9 mm against 400.6 mm), Bilaspur (598.7 mm against 316.8 mm), Chamba (561.6 mm against 291.7 mm) and Sirmaur (557.5 mm against 402.1 mm) all recorded large surpluses.
Even traditionally drier districts saw sharp increases. Kullu received 477.5 mm against a normal 180.2 mm, a surplus of 165 percent — the highest departure in the state. Shimla logged 438 mm against 196.4 mm, while Kinnaur received 143.3 mm against 77.6 mm. Lahaul and Spiti, the driest region, recorded 129.7 mm against a normal 117.6 mm, reflecting only a 10 percent departure.
Una also reported the heaviest single-day downpour of the season with 222.8 mm of rain on August 2.
Officials at the Indian Meteorological Department’s State Meteorological Centre said the trend of above-normal rainfall is likely to continue in September.
