Panaji: The 2026 pre-monsoon season is shaping up to be one of the most anomalous in recent years. Goa has recorded only 14 rainy days during the pre-monsoon period so far, with most of the rain arriving suddenly and late, concentrated almost entirely in May instead of being spread across March and April. After being in major deficit until a week ago, the pre-monsoon rainfall is currently standing at 57% excess.Studies on Goa’s long-term weather records show that the average rainfall during these months historically stand at 2.9mm in March, 6.6mm in April and 81.3mm in May.This year’s rainfall has already surpassed those climatological norms in several stations even before the monsoon has officially arrived.Meteorologist and retired chief scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) M R Ramesh Kumar described the rainfall pattern as highly unusual for the pre-monsoon phase, especially after an exceptionally dry March and April.“What Goa should normally have received gradually during March and April has effectively arrived together in the peak pre-monsoon month of May,” he said.Kumar’s independent climatological studies also reveal extraordinary historical rainfall extremes hidden in Goa’s archives.“The highest rainfall ever recorded in March was just 4.6mm in 1954, reflecting how rare significant March rain traditionally is in the state. April, however, once witnessed a remarkable anomaly when Goa received 217.2mm of rainfall in 1937, while the most extreme May rainfall event on record dates back to 1933, when the state was drenched by a massive 580.6mm of rain,” he said.The intense pre-monsoon rainfall activity currently sweeping across the state has pushed five major rain gauge stations beyond the 100mm rainfall mark before the official onset of the southwest monsoon. Quepem has emerged as the wettest station in Goa till Monday morning, recording 116.8mm of rainfall. Close behind were Dharbandora with 104.9mm, Dabolim with 104mm, Mormugao with 103.8mm and Margao with 102mm.The weather system intensified sharply over the past 24 hours, with the Mormugao rain gauge station alone receiving 45.8mm of rainfall in a single day.The IMD has issued a yellow alert for May 26, warning of thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds of up to 40 kmph likely at isolated places during evening and night hours over Goa.
