Delhi recorded its first official heatwave day of May, with temperatures rising above 45 degrees Celsius across several parts of the city under intense sunshine and dry winds. The IMD has forecast that the national capital is likely to experience further intensification of heat on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to approach 46 degrees Celsius.
The heatwave has intensified across large regions of north and central India. Banda in Uttar Pradesh emerged as the hottest location in the country, recording 47.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous day’s national maximum of 46.4 degrees Celsius, also recorded in the same city. Several regions across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha have also reported persistently high nighttime temperatures, worsening public discomfort as heat conditions remain elevated even after sunset.
In Delhi, deteriorating air quality has compounded the situation, with conditions slipping from the “moderate” category toward “poor” in multiple areas.
The IMD has stated that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist over parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi over the next several days. Severe heatwave conditions are specifically expected across parts of Delhi and surrounding regions on May 20, prompting heightened concern among authorities.
In stark contrast, southern India has been experiencing widespread rainfall activity. Kerala received extensive showers, while Neyyoor in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu recorded 16 centimeters of rainfall in a single day.
The IMD has predicted continued rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Lakshadweep in the coming days, indicating sustained instability in southern weather systems.
Eastern India is also witnessing unsettled conditions. Odisha is expected to experience isolated hailstorms, while thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast across Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha throughout the week. Heavy rainfall is also likely in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim later in the week.
In the northeastern region, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall over the next few days, with activity expected to intensify between May 22 and May 25. Heavy rainfall is likely in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, while very heavy rainfall may occur in isolated pockets of Arunachal Pradesh and the Assam–Meghalaya region later in the week.
The IMD has also indicated the possibility of an early advance of the Southwest Monsoon, which is expected to reach Kerala around May 26, nearly ahead of its usual schedule, with a model uncertainty margin of four days. The development signals a potentially early seasonal transition amid ongoing extreme weather conditions.
The contrasting weather patterns underscore a widening climatic imbalance across the country, with extreme heat, intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and unstable atmospheric conditions simultaneously affecting multiple regions, placing significant stress on public infrastructure and daily life.
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