India is set for a hotter and more uneven May, with the India Meteorological Department warning of above-normal heatwave days across several regions despite intermittent rainfall and thunderstorms offering temporary relief in pockets of the country.
The IMD has said heatwave conditions are likely to increase along the eastern coast, parts of the Himalayan foothills, and western states, including Maharashtra and Gujarat. West Bengal, southern Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Uttarakhand could record four to five additional heatwave days this month. Night temperatures are also expected to remain above normal, reducing overnight cooling and increasing heat stress.
Brief rain brings relief, but only in pockets
Delhi has seen a temporary dip in temperatures after rainfall and thunderstorms. The maximum temperature has settled around 36.4°C, which is below seasonal normal levels. Minimum temperatures have also dropped across stations in the capital.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Delhi. It has forecast light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds over the next two days. Wind speeds may reach 30–40 kmph and gust up to 50 kmph during evening and night hours.
Air quality remains in the moderate category, with an AQI of 119 recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Kanpur has also experienced sharp weather swings. The temperature rose rapidly to 35.6°C after a cooler spell. Later, moderate rainfall brought night temperatures down to 20.6°C. The city recorded 6.6 mm of rainfall. Humidity stayed high at 83%. Experts link these shifts to weak western disturbances. Another short spell of rain, dust storms and isolated hail is likely around May 4 and 5.
Wet outlook, but heat persists
The IMD has projected rainfall above 110% of the long-period average in May. This suggests an active pre-monsoon phase with thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds across several regions. Eastern and northeastern India are expected to see the most widespread activity.
However, rainfall will not bring uniform cooling. Several parts of southern India, the northeast, and the northwest are still likely to record above-normal maximum temperatures.
April has already set a difficult baseline. Rainfall remained below normal while temperatures stayed high. This pushed peak electricity demand to a record 256.1 gigawatts.
Rising energy pressure and supply risks
The heat is directly feeding into energy stress. Cooling demand has surged across urban and rural India, driving higher electricity consumption.
At the same time, global energy supply conditions remain uncertain. Disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions affecting crude movement through the Strait of Hormuz have added pressure on imports. This comes at a time when domestic demand is already elevated.
A summer that is arriving earlier and lasting longer
Heat has arrived earlier this year and with greater intensity. Large parts of India crossed 40°C in April, with some regions nearing 45°C. Short spells of rain have interrupted the heat briefly, but have not changed the overall pattern.
For millions of outdoor workers, the impact is immediate. Heat reduces working hours, affects health, and lowers productivity. Even urban populations are facing longer exposure due to rising daytime and nighttime temperatures.
India is not facing a single heatwave event. It is entering a sustained phase of heat stress, marked by short relief windows and rapid temperature rebounds. The May outlook suggests that this pattern is likely to continue, making the month more demanding than usual across both urban and rural regions.