Tbilisi received 1.5 times its average monthly rainfall within 7-8 hours overnight on July 20-21, while some areas recorded 2.5 times the monthly norm, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reports.
The agency linked the intense rainfall to flash floods, flooded streets, and increased pressure on the city’s urban infrastructure.
The heaviest rainfall was recorded near Building I of Tbilisi State University, where 110 mm of precipitation fell in around eight hours — a record July figure for Tbilisi at that monitoring location.
Data from the NEA’s meteorological stations showed significant differences in rainfall levels across the city. The agency recorded 95.1 mm on Aghmashenebeli Avenue, 87.3 mm in Mukhatskaro, 75.2 mm in Baghebi, 69.1 mm near Sokhumi University, 55.8 mm in Vashlijvari, and 25.07 mm in Tabakhmela. The Mtskheta station recorded 1.5 mm.
The NEA noted that the uneven distribution of rainfall was typical of convective weather processes, with the heaviest precipitation affecting parts of western and central Tbilisi.
The agency attributed the downpour to atmospheric instability caused by high surface temperatures, increased humidity in the lower atmosphere, and colder air entering higher layers of the atmosphere. These conditions led to the rapid formation of powerful storm clouds, bringing intense rainfall over a short period.
Heavy rain hit the capital overnight on July 20-21, with residents reporting flooded streets and disrupted traffic in several districts.
