Assam is grappling with an exceptionally dry winter, with rainfall levels decreasing dramatically since November. The state recorded a rainfall deficit of more than 70 per cent over this period, and an alarming 99 per cent shortfall since January 1, a pattern that is increasingly associated with shifting climate trends.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there have been no rains in as many as 25 districts of Assam since January 1, while in others the deficit has been more than 90 per cent. Against the normal of 39 mm, the state received just 0.4 mm of rainfall in the period.
The dry phase has largely persisted since the mid-November. In Guwahati, around 27.5 mm of rainfall was recorded in the first week of November 2025, but the city has remained almost entirely dry after November 6. Apart from a meagre 0.2 mm shower on January 5, the city has seen almost no precipitation.
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Temperatures in February have been notably above normal, particularly in upper Assam, where maximum temperatures on some days were nearly 7 degrees above normal. Although light showers in some areas recently brought slight relief, the broader seasonal trend remains unusually warm and dry.
As per the IMD, rainfall activity is expected to increase in the first week of March, potentially bringing much relief after months of persistent dryness.
Experts pointed out that said February rainfall is crucial for the tea crop, and lack of rainfall and overall atmospheric dryness, caused by low relative humidity, may delay the emergence of new flushes.
