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Informist, Friday, May 1, 2026

MUMBAI – Maximum temperatures are likely to be normal-to-below-normal in most parts of the country in May, the India Meteorological Department said in its outlook for rainfall and temperature for the month. Minimum temperatures and rainfall during the month are expected to be above-normal, while above-normal heatwave days are likely in a few parts of the country, the department said.

During May, normal-to-below-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most of India except many parts of southern peninsular India and some parts of northeast and northwest India, where above normal maximum temperatures are likely during the month, the weather bureau said. 

Minimum temperatures are expected to be above normal over most of the country. Normal-to-below-normal minimum temperatures are likely in many parts of northwest India, some parts of central India and the adjoining areas of peninsular India, and the southern parts of northeast India, the bureau said. Above-normal minimum temperatures typically mean warmer night conditions, which increase before the monsoon, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general, India Meteorological Department. "When you expect more rain, nights will be warmer," he said. However, such conditions are also becoming more frequent due to climate change, he said.

Rainfall over the country as a whole during May is likely to be above normal at more than 110% of the long-period average, the weather department said. The long-period average of rainfall over north India and the country as a whole during May, based on data from 1971-2020, is 64.1 millimetres, the department said. Normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of the country except some parts of east and northeast India and eastcentral India, where below normal rainfall is expected, it said. 

The weather department expects above-normal heatwave days over parts of the Himalaya foothills, east coast states, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Though central India, which is one of the regions most susceptible to high temperatures during summer, is likely to see below-normal heatwave days, Mohapatra said.

The predictions for temperatures in May show moderately favourable conditions for harvesting and threshing of late rabi crops in north and northwest India, the weather bureau said. Normal to below-normal maximum temperatures over most parts of the country may help in reducing heat stress and support better grain filling and harvesting operations. However, above-normal minimum temperatures across most parts of the country may increase respiration losses and reduce grain filling efficiency in rice, maize and pulses, the bureau said. A rise in heatwave days over parts of the Gangetic plains, coastal, and western India may lead to severe moisture stress in crops due to high evapotranspiration, causing flower and fruit drops in crops such as mango, banana, tomato and chilli, and sunburn in fruits and vegetables.

Above-normal rainfall over most parts of the country in May is expected to improve soil moisture availability, favouring summer crops and land preparation for kharif sowing, the weather department said. However, harvesting and threshing operations of late rabi crops could be delayed in regions receiving excess rainfall, the department said. 

In April, the country recorded 35 millimetres of rainfall, which is 11% below normal, the weather department data showed. In Mar-Apr, rainfall over the country was nearly 1% below normal at 68.8 millimetres. Rainfall over the southern peninsula during April was the fourth lowest since 2001 and the 10th lowest since 1901, the department said. Over the entire country, rainfall during April was the 10th lowest since 2001 and 40th lowest since 1901.

The presence of multiple western disturbances and thunderstorm activities kept maximum temperatures in check during the first half of April, and subsequently, maximum temperatures increased across the country, leading to heatwave conditions, the weather department said. A rise in thunderstorms during the last week of the month helped in a gradual reduction of maximum temperatures, the department said. South peninsular India was the hottest subdivision during the month, with maximum temperatures in the region ranking ninth highest, and minimum temperatures at eighth highest since 1901.  End

Reported by Shreya Shetty

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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