A sudden shift in weather has provided welcome respite from the intense summer heat in several parts of India, with rainfall and gusty winds transforming conditions in key regions on May 1, 2026. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), these changes are likely to continue in the coming days, offering a temporary break before temperatures potentially rise again in some areas.
In the Delhi-NCR region, residents experienced a marked change after days of scorching heat and bright sunshine. Strong winds carrying dust swept through in the afternoon, followed by overcast skies and light to moderate rainfall in various localities. The IMD has forecast a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 24 degrees Celsius for the day, with partly cloudy skies prevailing and no specific warnings in place.
Similar pleasant conditions emerged in Bihar, where sudden strong winds and rain in Patna and surrounding districts cooled the air noticeably, making the weather feel refreshing. The IMD has issued alerts for several districts in the state amid these developments.
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In West Bengal, Kolkata and parts of South Bengal saw a significant drop in minimum temperatures—by as much as 7 degrees Celsius—following storms and rainfall. The IMD anticipates continued thunderstorms and rain in Kolkata and South Bengal districts over the next few days, with pleasant, gusty conditions likely to persist until Sunday. In North Bengal, including areas such as Darjeeling and Kalimpong, heavy rainfall is expected in five districts, with storms and showers continuing for the next four days. Scattered hailstorms accompanied by thunder and rain remain possible across other parts of the state.
Further south, the IMD’s Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted moderate rainfall in several areas of Tamil Nadu, particularly in districts along the Western Ghats and southern coastal regions. Light to moderate showers are expected to bring some cooling and a modest decline in temperatures, while seasonal weather patterns hold with occasional rain in vulnerable zones.
In Madhya Pradesh, the IMD office in Bhopal has sounded an alert regarding severe heat alongside possible atmospheric disturbances. Skies in Bhopal are forecast to stay mostly clear, with a gradual reduction of about 2 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over the next three days. However, a fresh Western Disturbance may cause temperatures to climb again around May 2, though a brief cooling could occur in the interim.
The IMD indicates that these unsettled conditions, driven by rain and associated winds, have altered the overall weather pattern across affected regions, bringing cooler breezes and relief from the prior heat wave. Forecasters expect similar dynamics to influence parts of the country in the week ahead, though monitoring for any shifts remains essential.