According to the latest weather bulletin issued on April 29, 2026, based on the All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin, the coming month of May is predicted to be challenging for most of the country. West Bengal and the Northeast region are expected to face intense rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds for five consecutive days.
Heavy Rainfall Forecast for Northeast and Eastern India
With the arrival of rains in many parts of India, travel to areas including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura will be hampered for five days due to intense rainfall, sometimes heavy to very heavy showers, as per the IMD weather forecast. Popular gateways such as Shillong and Guwahati have been affected by waterlogging, flight delays, and disruption of road traffic, especially in lower and hilly areas vulnerable to landslides.
East India, comprising states such as West Bengal (sub-Himalayan and Ganges plains), Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, will witness thunderstorms, thundersqualls, and occasional hailstorms. Routes through North Bengal to destinations such as Darjeeling and Sikkim are likely to be temporarily affected due to heavy showers and poor visibility.
West Himalayas and Northern India: Mixed Weather Conditions
In the north, places such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are likely to receive light to moderate showers accompanied by snow at higher elevations in isolated locations on certain days from April 30 to May 5. Though favorable for tourists, the weather may make roads slippery and cause landslides in certain hilly routes.
On the other hand, regions like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi might witness thunderstorm showers, high-speed winds, and occasional dust storm activities. There is an alert for a thundersquall with wind speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour, which is hazardous for roadways and railways.
Heatwave and Humidity
While areas in India are preparing for the onset of rain, other parts will be witnessing increasing temperatures in central and western India. An alarm for heatwave activity has been issued for Vidarbha and Rajasthan in the first week of May. The temperature was recorded at a whopping 45.8 degrees Celsius at Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
In the south, places like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh will witness thunder showers along with humid air, with rainfall occurring in parts of Kerala and Karnataka.
What It Means for Travelers
The current weather situation is due to the presence of an active Western Disturbance, apart from several cyclonic disturbances and troughs over the Indian subcontinent. In addition, a fresh system will impact the Western Himalayan region from May 2 onwards, maintaining the unstable weather situation.
From a travel perspective, one should be prepared for some flexibility, as flight delays, train cancellations, and road obstructions due to waterlogging and falling rocks may occur in many places. Hill stations and Northeastern routes should be approached with caution, and hot spots would require adequate hydration and reduced daylight exposure.
Travelers are advised to keep themselves updated about official weather reports, not venture outdoors during lightning activity, and allow buffer time while making travel plans. With India entering its highly unstable pre-monsoon season, travel plans in various parts of the country may require reconsideration in the upcoming days.
