IMD predicts more heatwave days, warmer nights for May

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday released its monthly forecast for May 2025, warning of above-normal heatwave days across many parts of northwest, central, and adjoining eastern India. Nights are also expected to be warmer, with above-normal minimum temperatures likely across most regions.

Typically, the month of May sees around three days of heatwave conditions in the northern plains, central India, and parts of the peninsular region. However, the IMD has predicted that this year, several states are likely to experience more than the usual number of heatwave days. The affected regions include parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and some parts of Gujarat, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and adjoining Telangana and north Karnataka.

A heatwave condition occurs when the maximum temperature in the plains reaches at least 40°C or is five degrees above normal.

Despite the heat, rainfall in May 2025 is expected to be above normal. The long period average (1971–2020) for May rainfall across India is about 61.4 mm.

From March to April, India recorded 58.9 mm of rainfall against the normal 69.2 mm.

In April, above-normal Heat wave days were observed over Rajasthan and Gujarat with 6-11 days and four-six days over east Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha against a normal of two-three days. Over East central India, Maharashtra and adjoining northern Peninsular India, one-three days of heat was observed against normal of two-three days and it was below normal.

Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan will witness isolated rainfall from May 1 to 5. Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will witnes moderate rainfall from May 1 to 6.

India