The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a comprehensive weather bulletin predicting widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, dust-raising winds, and heatwave conditions across various parts of the country over the coming days. Here’s a detailed regional breakdown of the forecast, valid until May 21, 2025.
According to the IMD, isolated heavy rainfall is expected over several northeastern states due to an upper air cyclonic circulation hovering over Assam. The affected regions include:
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura till May 18
Assam and Meghalaya till May 19
In addition to isolated heavy downpours, the entire northeastern belt is likely to experience widespread moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning till May 20.
The IMD confirmed that the southwest monsoon has advanced into parts of:
Southeast Arabian Sea
Maldives and Comorin area
South Bay of Bengal
Andaman Islands and Andaman Sea
This progress indicates the gradual onset of the 2025 monsoon season, bringing relief to regions awaiting summer showers.
Several states in South India are set to receive scattered to fairly widespread rainfall till May 20, triggered by two cyclonic circulations—one over north interior Karnataka and the other over north coastal Tamil Nadu.
The forecast includes:
Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rayalaseema on May 15 and 16
Interior Karnataka till May 19
Tamil Nadu till May 17
Kerala, Mahe, Puducherry, Karaikal, Rayalaseema, and Telangana till May 20
Heavy rainfall may occur in localized pockets, especially in interior and coastal areas.
Several central and eastern states are also in line for moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning till May 20:
Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and West Bengal
In the sub-Himalayan regions of West Bengal and Sikkim, isolated heavy rainfall is likely to continue until May 19.
Scattered light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected over the Western Himalayan region and parts of North India:
Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh till May 21
Punjab and Haryana from May 19 to 21
These regions are also under observation for strong wind activity and possible dust storms in the coming days.
The IMD has issued a warning for strong dust-raising winds on May 16 across:
West Uttar Pradesh
Rajasthan
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi
These winds may reduce visibility and create difficult conditions for commuters and sensitive individuals.
While rainfall offers respite in some regions, others will continue to face intense heatwave conditions. The IMD predicts:
Heatwave conditions in isolated pockets of Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh this week
Warm night conditions are likely over East Uttar Pradesh on May 16, potentially affecting sleep comfort and health