By Lamin Fatty
The first rains of the 2025 rainy season swept across the Upper River Region (URR) and Central River Region (CRR) on the night of May 30, delivering a significant 52 millimeters of rainfall. The downpour, accompanied by a fierce windstorm, marked a dramatic shift for the typically dry month of May, when the region averages only around 11 millimeters of precipitation.
Residents across the eastern part of the country experienced strong winds followed by heavy rain, yet authorities reported no damage to homes or infrastructure. Officials from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in both URR and CRR confirmed that no reports of destruction or displacement had been received as of early June 1.
“This year’s first rains arrived with the usual accompanying windstorms, but fortunately, there has been no damage reported,” NDMA representatives told Foroyaa.
The early arrival of the rains is seen as a positive development for rural communities and farmers who rely heavily on seasonal precipitation to sustain their crops and livestock. Historically, Gambian farmers look forward to rains beginning in late May or early June, with the peak rainy period stretching from July through September.
The recorded 52 millimeters on May 30 is well above the monthly average and signals a robust start to the agricultural season. Farmers and rural residents anticipate that this early rainfall will help replenish depleted water sources and support planting activities.
Less than 24 hours later, another heavy rainfall struck the region around midnight on June 1, marking the second substantial downpour of the season and reinforcing hopes for a productive agricultural year ahead.
