The summer tourist season in India is being reshaped by an extreme heat wave that has pushed temperatures close to 50°C in several parts of north and central India, even as the southwest monsoon approaches the southern coast. According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, heatwave conditions are expected to persist in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Vidarbha in the coming days. Additionally, heatwave conditions are likely to prevail in Rajasthan, Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The highest temperature recorded in the country was 48.2°C in Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
Impact on Travel Plans
With rising temperatures, travel plans across India are being affected. Tourists are becoming increasingly selective about their destinations, travel times, and duration of stay. In many northern cities, outdoor tourism has been restricted to early mornings and evenings, with many visitors opting for shorter trips. In Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra, and central India, there is a growing preference for indoor activities, air-conditioned transport, and flexible schedules as people try to cope with the extreme daytime heat.
IMD Weather Update
The weather department has advised avoiding sun exposure and drinking plenty of water, even when not thirsty. Warm nights are also expected in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha, making it harder for travelers to recover from the daytime heat. Road transport has been significantly affected, with long-distance travel on highways in north and central India becoming exhausting during the day. The extreme afternoon heat is also impacting wildlife tourism zones in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Contrasting Weather Patterns
While northern regions continue to experience intense heat, southern and northeastern parts of the country are preparing for strong rainfall as the southwest monsoon advances. According to the IMD, conditions are favorable for the monsoon to advance into parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Andaman Sea over the next three to four days. The monsoon is predicted to reach Kerala by May 26, with a model error margin of four days.
Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, South Interior Karnataka, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the early part of the week. Rainfall intensity is expected to increase over Northeast India from May 21, particularly in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from May 22 to 23, Arunachal Pradesh from May 23 to 24, and Assam and Meghalaya from May 23 to 25.
Potential Hazards
The IMD has warned that heavy rainfall could cause waterlogging, traffic disruptions, local flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are also expected in several states, including Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and parts of West Bengal. Sea conditions will be rough, with squally weather over parts of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, and Andaman Sea. Fishermen in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep have been advised not to venture out to sea.
Recent Rainfall
Many places in the country have received considerable rainfall in the last 24 hours. Neyyoor in Tamil Nadu recorded 16 cm of rainfall, while Longding in Arunachal Pradesh and Kadmat in Lakshadweep recorded 9 cm each. The current weather systems are creating two entirely different travel experiences across India—one coping with extreme heat and the other preparing to welcome the monsoon season.
