'Above normal' temperatures likely in May, many states may face 2-7 heat wave days: IMD

NEW DELHI: Most parts of the country are likely to have ‘above normal’ temperatures in May with parts of the northwest, central and adjoining east India witnessing more than usual heat wave days during the month, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

States/regions which may experience ‘above normal’ heat wave days in May include many 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.

Though rains and thunderstorms are expected to bring some respite in northwest India, Indo-Gangetic plain and Delhi during the first week of May, most parts may still face 2-7 heat wave days -- 1 to 4 days higher than normal -- during the month.

Releasing the temperature and rainfall outlook for the month, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said frequent and intense thunderstorms, and 'above normal' rainfall in May are likely to prevent temperatures from rising to the levels seen in May 2024.


He said ‘above normal’ maximum (day) temperatures are, however, likely over most parts of the country except many parts of southern peninsular India, and some parts of east India where normal to 'below normal' maximum temperatures are likely. ‘Above normal’ minimum (night) temperatures too are likely over most parts of the country, Mohapatra added.

The Met department predicted ‘above normal’ rainfall over the country as a whole during May, 2025 averaged over the country as a whole. “The normal to ‘above normal’ rainfall is likely over many parts of the country except some parts of northwest central, east and northeast India where below normal rainfall is likely,” it said.

The temperature situation was worse in April — the month which experienced seventh highest mean April temperature (29.15 degree celsius which was higher by 0.85 degree C than normal) over the country as a whole since the formal recording began in India in 1901. Northwest India during the month recorded the fifth warmest April since 1901.

As far as heat waves were concerned, Rajasthan and Gujarat faced 6-11 heat wave days, and east Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha experienced 4-6 heat wave days against normal of 2 to 3 days. Rajasthan faced the highest 11 heat wave days in April.

Over east central India, Maharashtra and adjoining northern Peninsular India, 1-3 heat wave days were observed against normal of 2-3 days and it was ‘below normal’.