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Which areas of Asia receive the most rainfall?
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Asia
Map showing the countries and national capitals of Asia.
In Asia, the highest levels of rainfall are primarily concentrated in regions where moist air currents, particularly the monsoon, are forced to rise over mountain barriers or encounter coastal landmasses.12
The most notable areas for extreme precipitation include:
- Meghalaya, India: This region contains some of the wettest places on Earth. Mawsynram and Cherrapunji receive massive amounts of rain—often exceeding 450 inches (11,430 mm) annually—due to the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon striking the Shillong Plateau.23
- Western Ghats, India: As the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon rises over these mountains, it deposits heavy rainfall on the windward side, with some locations receiving over 245 inches (6,250 mm) per year.2
- Southeast Asia: Much of this region receives over 60 inches (1,500 mm) of rain annually. High precipitation is especially common in equatorial regions, the east coast of Malaysia, the Philippines, and parts of eastern Indonesia, often exacerbated by typhoons and tropical cyclones.14