New Delhi [India]: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over India’s northeastern and southern regions through May 31, with widespread weather activity expected across the country due to multiple systems, including a depression over Bangladesh and an active western disturbance.
The depression over Bangladesh is likely to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area within 12 hours, the IMD said.
Northeast India: Flood Risk Looms
Northeastern states will experience widespread rainfall over the next seven days, with isolated extremely heavy rain (>20 cm) likely in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.
“Isolated exceptionally heavy rainfall (>30 cm) is very likely over Meghalaya on May 30,” IMD warned.
South India: Early Monsoon Hits Hard
Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu (ghat areas) are also expected to receive heavy to extremely heavy rain until May 30, reducing thereafter.
South India will continue to see widespread light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds up to 50 kmph in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry through May 31.
The monsoon arrived early in Kerala on May 24, the earliest onset since 2009, ahead of the usual June 1 date.
Northwest India: Thunderstorms, Dust Storms Forecast
Scattered rainfall and strong thunderstorms (up to 70 kmph winds) are expected over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and J&K from May 30 to June 3.
Dust storms are likely over West Rajasthan on May 30 and again from June 2 to 5.
Central & East India: Widespread Rain, Gusty Winds
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal between May 30 and June 1, with winds reaching 60–70 kmph in parts of central India.
Monsoon Outlook: Above-Normal Rain Likely
The IMD reiterated that above-normal rainfall is most likely during the June–September 2025 monsoon season, with June expected to receive above 108% of Long Period Average (LPA).
While beneficial for agriculture and water reservoirs, such rainfall patterns also carry the risk of flooding, transport disruption, public health issues, and ecosystem stress.