Residents across India’s national capital experienced a timely downpour on Monday as rain swept through several areas, providing a much-needed break from the oppressive summer temperatures.
This latest spell of rainfall follows similar showers that hit the city on Saturday, underscoring a noticeable shift in weather patterns in recent days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been closely monitoring these developments as part of its broader seasonal outlook. In its monthly forecast released on Friday, the IMD predicted above-normal rainfall for India in May 2026. At the same time, it highlighted mixed temperature trends across the country, with certain regions braced for heightened heatwave activity.
“During May 2026, maximum temperatures are expected to be normal to below normal across many parts of the country,” the IMD stated in a press release from the Ministry of Earth Sciences. However, the agency cautioned that above-normal temperatures are likely in many parts of southern peninsular India, some areas of the northeast, and northwest India. Minimum temperatures are forecast to stay above normal over large swathes of the nation, though pockets in northwest, central, and adjoining peninsular regions may see normal to below-normal night-time readings.
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Regarding extreme weather, the IMD warned of above-normal heatwave days in select zones, including the foothills of the Himalayas, east coast states, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. These conditions point to ongoing risks of intense heat in vulnerable pockets despite the overall rainfall outlook.
On the precipitation front, the IMD expects stronger-than-average rainfall nationwide. “The rainfall during May 2026, averaged over the country as a whole, is most likely to be above normal (>110% of LPA),” it noted, referencing the long-period average. That said, below-normal rainfall remains possible in parts of east, northeast, and east-central India.
The forecast also accounts for evolving global climate indicators. ENSO-neutral conditions are transitioning toward El Niño over the equatorial Pacific, with models suggesting its influence during the forthcoming southwest monsoon. Meanwhile, neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions currently hold, though positive IOD is expected to emerge toward the later stages of the monsoon season.
This combination of local relief in Delhi and the national outlook reflects the dynamic weather India faces as the summer progresses.