Climate in Cherrapunjee

Climate in Cherrapunjee

The cliffs of Cherrapunji receive heavy rainfall due to monsoon winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal. Thus, the region is home to extremely wet weather.

Cherrapunji's yearly rainfall average stands at 11,777 millimetres (463.7 in). This figure places it behind only nearby Mawsynram, Meghalaya, whose average is 11,873 millimetres (467.4 in). Cherrapunji receives both the Southwest and Northeast monsoon showers which give it a single monsoon season. It lies in the windward side of the Khasi Hills. Orographic precipitation results, and monsoon winds are forced to deposit much of their moisture. In the winter months it receives the northeast monsoon showers which travel down the Brahmaputra valley.

It holds two Guinness world records for receiving the maximum amount of rainfall in a single year: 22,987 millimetres (905.0 in) of rainfall between August 1860 and July 1861 and for receiving the maximum amount of rainfall in a single month: 9,300 millimetres (370 in) in July 1861.

Last Updated: 29/03/2012