According to the data of the Indian Meteorological Department, the incidence of very heavy rains in Kerala has increased almost three times since 2015.
According to official data, 43 incidents of very heavy rains were recorded in this coastal state during the year 2015, while this number increased to 115 in the year 2021. An event of heavy rain is classified as a day that receives rainfall between 115.6 and 204.4 mm.
In the year 2015, 43 incidents of very heavy rainfall were recorded, out of which 19 were recorded in June. In 2016, the number was 23, of which 16 incidents were reported in June alone. In the year 2017, 38 incidents of very heavy rains were recorded, out of which 14 are of September. In 2018, 163 incidents of very heavy rains were recorded, out of which 74 were recorded in August. The year 2019 saw 117 incidents of very heavy rains, of which 71 were recorded in August and 22 in July. In the year 2020 there were 110 incidents of very heavy rainfall. In the year 2021, 115 incidents of very heavy rain were recorded, out of which 51 incidents were recorded only in May.
Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha to a question by Congress member Shashi Tharoor, had said, “With increasing heat, the frequency of extreme rainfall events may increase across India, especially in central and southern parts.”
Heavy rain (64.5-115.5 mm per day)
Year Total Events in 10 Months
2015 360
2016 225
2017 360
2018 607
2019 528
2020 484
Max in August (132)
2021 574
130 mostly in May
112 days in October
107 days in July
Extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.4 mm per day)
2015 01 day
2016 01 day
2017 02 days
2018 32 Events
2019 33 Events
2020 08 events
2021 11 Events
