India has officially bid farewell to the southwest monsoon! The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced its complete withdrawal from the entire country on Thursday, October 16, 2025, marking an early exit one day ahead of its usual October 15 timeline.
This year’s monsoon season proved to be quite an eventful one. It made an exceptionally early debut over Kerala on May 24, making it the earliest arrival since 2009. By July 8, the monsoon had enveloped the entire country, a full nine days ahead of its typical schedule, and the earliest such coverage since 2020. Traditionally, this vital rain-bearing system begins its retreat from northwest India around September 17, concluding its nationwide withdrawal by October 15.
The season concluded with India experiencing a robust 8% surplus in rainfall, recording 937.2 mm against the normal of 868.6 mm by September 30. Looking ahead, the IMD predicts that most regions across India, with the exception of some areas in the northwest, are poised for above-normal rainfall during the upcoming post-monsoon season from October to December. IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra specifically highlighted an anticipated 15% more rainfall than normal in October, building on the already generous June-September downpours.
However, the season wasn’t uniform across the subcontinent. East and northeast India faced a significant deficit, receiving 1,089.9 mm of rainfall, which is 20% below their average. This marked the second-lowest rainfall for the region since 1901, with only 2013 recording less precipitation. In stark contrast, northwest India enjoyed abundant rains, registering 747.9 mm – a substantial 27.3% above its normal levels. This was the highest rainfall for this region since 2001 and the sixth highest since record-keeping began in 1901, with all districts reporting above-normal rainfall in June, August, and September.
This surplus rainfall had mixed consequences. Punjab experienced its worst flooding in decades, with swollen rivers and breached canals submerging vast tracts of farmland and displacing millions. Similarly, the Himalayan states suffered widespread damage from cloudbursts and flash floods, leading to landslides and the destruction of bridges and roads in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The IMD attributed this varied but generally ample rainfall to active monsoon conditions, significantly bolstered by frequent western disturbances that enhanced precipitation in several areas. Central India received 1,125.3 mm (15.1% above normal), and the southern peninsula gauged 9.9% more rainfall than its normal of 716.2 mm. Monthly data showed consistent above-normal rainfall: 8.9% in June, 4.8% in July, 5.2% in August, and 15.3% in September. The 2025 monsoon season was also notable for 18 low-pressure systems and 69 low-pressure system days, exceeding the average of 13 systems and 55 days.
The monsoon’s performance is critically important for India, underpinning the agriculture sector, which sustains around 42% of the population and contributes 18.2% to the nation’s GDP. Beyond agriculture, it is essential for replenishing vital reservoirs, which are crucial for providing drinking water and generating power.