2025 bids adieu with fond memories of seasonal weather

The year 2025 will be remembered as one of the most tranquil years in the recent weather history of the State, with the State reporting no major natural calamities induced by extreme rainfall events, which used to exact a heavy toll on the lives and livelihoods of the people in the State every year, especially after the 2018 mega flood. There were only five extreme rainfall events— a localised intense rainfall of more than 204 mm in 24 hours — in the State this year. On the other hand, the number of extreme rainfall events was 32 and 33 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. 

The five extreme rainfall events were recorded in the pre-monsoon period (May 20 and 26) and the southwest monsoon period (June 16, June 26, and August 5). Similarly, the southwest and northeast monsoons were less than normal in Kerala in 2025, with 13% less rain during the southwest monsoon period and 21% less during the northeast monsoon period (as of December 30). Although the rainfall was less than normal in 2024, the skewed distribution coupled with the extreme intense spells last year triggered a massive landslide in Wayanad that claimed 254 lives and left 128 missing.

Similarly, the summer in 2025 was relatively milder and eventless, with the temperatures hovering around normal and slightly above normal. In 2024, Kerala, for the first time, witnessed six heatwave days in April with temperatures crossing the threshold mark in Palakkad. Further, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Punalur in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram satisfied the temperature criteria for heatwaves for a day — the maximum temperature should be 40°C or more (for plain lands), and the departure from normal should be 4.5°C. For declaring a heatwave, the variation should be recorded on two consecutive days as stipulated by the India Meteorological Ddepartment (IMD). Kerala has also officially confirmed two deaths due to heatstroke in 2024.

Cooler winter

In the case of winter, there was no winter-like condition last year. However, this time the mercury dropped to the long-period average normal and subsequently to below normal for around two weeks in December with the cessation of rainfall activity in Kerala in December. The relatively calm Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea coupled with the prevailing La Niña conditions over the equatorial Pacific region, contributed to chilly weather in December this year, according to V.K. Mini, director in-charge, IMD.

The cloud-free sky also aided the incoming solar radiation to warm the lower atmosphere in December, driving the daytime maximum temperature slightly above normal in many parts of the State, she said. However, considering the history of extreme weather-induced natural calamities in Kerala in recent past, especially after 2018, the year 2025 will be remembered for its peaceful seasonal weather, according to experts.