BAKU, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Azerbaijani capital of Baku and the surrounding Absheron Peninsula were hit by record-breaking rainfall on Friday, with precipitation levels exceeding seasonal averages and shattering century-old meteorological records.
According to data released by the National Hydrometeorological Service of Azerbaijan on Saturday, the region recorded 120 mm of rain within a single day on Friday. This volume represents 508 percent of the monthly norm, marking an unprecedented weather event for the arid Caspian coastal region.
The service said the closest comparable daily maximum over the last 100 years occurred on March 21, 1988, when 36.8 mm of rain fell, accounting for 156 percent of the monthly norm.
Monthly totals have also broken records. In March 1988, Baku and Absheron received 83 mm of precipitation, or 352 percent of the norm. In the first 27 days of March 2026, cumulative rainfall has already reached 128 mm, 542 percent of the monthly norm.
