Sun May 11 15:20:00 UTC 2025: **India Braces for Storms and Early Monsoon Arrival**

NEW DELHI – Thirty Indian states are under a severe weather warning today, May 12th, with forecasters predicting thunderstorms, high winds (40-70 kmph), and heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the southwest monsoon is expected to hit the Kerala coast on May 27th, four days earlier than usual (June 1st). This would mark the earliest monsoon arrival in 16 years.

Several regions already experienced severe weather. On Saturday, strong winds (80 kmph) in Agra damaged property, while heavy rain fell in parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The IMD issued thunderstorm and rain warnings for 30 districts in Rajasthan, all of Madhya Pradesh, and 20 districts in Uttar Pradesh. Temperatures are nearing 40°C in over 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh and exceeded 40°C in 16 cities of Odisha (reaching 42.7°C in Sambalpur). Heatwave conditions are possible in 5 West Bengal districts.

The IMD forecasts a temperature increase of 2-4 degrees Celsius across most of the country over the next two days. The following three-day forecast includes temperatures between 38-44°C in several states (Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra), with potential for dust storms and light rain. Similar temperatures are predicted for Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, with increased humidity in coastal areas. Cooler conditions are expected in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, with possible rain and snowfall in the latter region.

The IMD’s prediction of an early monsoon has raised anticipation, but also highlights the potential for unpredictable and intense weather patterns throughout the monsoon season, typically lasting until mid-October.

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