Why do we panic when it rains?

Navigating a rainy street in Chennai. Generated by DALL-E AI

Chennai was gearing up for a heavy downpour last week, and preparations were in full swing. Schools were closed, and private offices were advised to function remotely. People, as usual, were doing panic buying—because what’s a little rain without some chaos at the grocery store? My neighbour told me that the shops were practically empty. No vegetables, no fruits, no candles, no bread—basically, all the essentials were gone. And for those shops that still had stock? Well, they were selling items at five times the usual price. Because, obviously, what better time to make a quick buck than during a potential flood, right?

Meanwhile, the news channels were filled with intense debates on changing weather patterns, potential floods, and the damage that might occur—all the negativity you can imagine. Panic was in the air, and I could sense it creeping into my own home. We were switching on the motor more than once a day, charging all our electronic devices as if our lives depended on it, and filling every empty bucket with water. The level of panic at home every time there was a slight power cut was tormenting.

This made me wonder about similar situations we have faced before. I don’t remember freaking out like this. Back in the day, we had either enjoyed the rain, ignored it, or just went on with our daily routine—rain or shine. Schools, colleges, and offices didn’t just close because it rained heavily. So why the panic now? Did we secretly panic back then but never talked about it? Maybe. Or has the rainfall intensity really increased recently? Hmm.

In this article, we will discuss three key points—rainfall patterns, the portrayal of rainfall in the media, and the increasing levels of anxiety.

Rainfall Patterns in Chennai

I found an interesting portal that offers all sorts of data—governance, weather, elections—you name it. Naturally, I zeroed in on the weather stats and pulled up the rainfall data for Chennai from September to December over the last 20 years. As you can see from the graph, Chennai typically receives around 200 mm of rainfall during these months. Of course, there were a few exceptions, like in 2005, 2015, and 2021, when cyclones and floods gave us a little extra "love." So, it’s pretty clear—we have been dealing with heavy rainfall for years.

Trends of rainfall patterns (monsoon) in Chennai in the last 10 years
Data source: Open city

However, the intensity of rainfall and flooding has definitely increased in recent times, and there are several reasons for this. One big factor is the population boom—Chennai’s population has grown from around 38 lakhs to 46 lakhs (based on 2011 census), now its estimated around 1 crore. That means more buildings, more resource exploitation, and less open land for water to drain. Chennai, an age-old city with a history dating back to the 18th century, was well-planned with canals and stormwater drains back then. But, as usual, less thought has gone into envisioning a highly populated city with a proper drainage system. Hence, the water logging.

Recently, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has been trying to rebuild the stormwater drainage system, but with increasing rainfall (thanks to climate change), it’s just not enough. Long story short: the rain isn’t new, but the overpopulation and under-maintenance are definitely new—and that’s probably why we are all panicking.

Media Coverage: From Text to Drama

Now, let’s move on to how the media covers rainfall. The portrayal of rainfall has evolved dramatically—both in print and visual media. Earlier, weather-related reports were simple: “There’s an orange or red alert due to heavy rainfall. Stay home and stock up on essentials.” Now, it’s more like: Breaking News—there’s an orange alert from the Indian Meteorological Department! Thriller music begins in the background. You can see drone footage of rain-soaked streets, minute-by-minute cyclone updates, wind speeds, rainfall expectations, and of course, a reminder of potential damages. More information means more reasons for us to worry!

Personally, I noticed a shift in how the media covers events after the death of former CM Jayalalitha in 2016. The coverage was like a saga that captivated the public and kept everyone glued to their TVs for weeks. From then on, I have seen news channels treat every event like a human-interest story, whether it’s a cyclone or a minor roadblock. They report news like they are telling a thriller story, and people tune in, not just for updates, but for the drama. You even start seeing TV serial-style ads on news channels, indicating the increase in viewership.

Thanks to advanced technology, we can now see rain-affected areas from drones, which is not easily accessible to humans. And don’t forget the endless updates on where the cyclone is now, how fast the wind is blowing, and the predicted damage—because clearly, we all needed another reason to panic.

Increased Anxiety: The new normal

Now let’s talk about anxiety. Let’s be real, we are all anxious in some way. Whether it’s waiting for exam results, riding a bike without helmet and you see traffic police on every corners, couldn’t find your mobile charger when your phone is about to die, no food and you have unannounced guests. Yeah, those moments. If you have lived through these, well done—you are officially part of the anxious club.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety levels have skyrocketed. According to WHO, global anxiety increased by about25% during the first year of the pandemic. Studies also show a link between COVID and long-term mental health issues like anxiety, especially in those with long COVID. Factors like being female, older, or having a history of mental health conditions, along with symptoms like headaches, breathlessness, or fatigue, increase the likelihood of developing anxiety.

So, while we have always had our fair share of anxious moments, the pandemic really turned things up a notch. Now, it’s not just exam results or homework that keep us awake at night—it’s the constant uncertainty and stress that seem to follow us everywhere.

Now, coming back to the question—why do we panic when it rains? I am sure you must have figured it out.

But the real question is: How does rain actually make us feel?

I am not going to dive into research or throw facts at you. Instead, I will just share what I observed during rainfall and how does it made me feel.

As I watched the clouds grow like volcanic eruptions in the distance, something tiny caught my attention—a dragonfly. It was sitting on top of the overhead water tank at my neighbour’s house, completely still. After a few moments, another dragonfly came and sat next to it. Then another flew above the tank. And before I knew it, there was a whole swarm of them. It was an amazing sight to behold.

Dragonflies before the rain. Generated by DALL-E AI

This reminded me of something my mom used to say: More dragonflies mean it’s going to rain. But I was more interested in why they were there. Then I saw it—tiny flies buzzing around the same tank. They were barely visible, but there they were. Although outnumbered by the dragonflies, these poor little flies were having a tough time, while the dragonflies were clearly enjoying a feast. It reminded me of the time I saw a blue whale hunting krill—thousands of tiny fish being devoured by a single whale having the time of its life. And this story I heard from an ecologist during a trek in Anamalai. The elephants love delicate pink flowers of the Mimosa pudica (the "touch-me-not" plant). They carefully sniff each flower and eat it, one by one. It made me realize how it’s often the little things in life that give us the most joy—just like these dragonflies were having fun, or like how I was enjoying watching them. The God of Small Things, indeed.

It all started to make sense—fresh water attract insects, which thrive there, and those insects become a feast for dragonflies. So, is it really the dragonflies that predict the rain, or is it the rain that invites the dragonflies?

This is what rain did to me—it made me pause, observe, and smile at the tiniest of things. It stays with us, leaves a mark in our memories, and gives us stories to share. And this all happened in the middle of the city, not in some forest or untouched natural setting.

Here’s my question for you: how does rain make you feel? Share your reflections—I would love to hear your rainy day stories.