Why does May feel so cool when it should be peak summer heat by now?

On May 7, a region in Uttar Pradesh recorded a maximum temperature of just 26°C, making it the coolest May day ever measured there. What's happening?

In Short

• Temperatures 8-13°C below normal, coolest May day in Hardoi
• Easterly winds and rain delay peak summer heat
• Climate change causes hotter summers, hotter nights expected

May 2026 has brought more relief than heat to much of northern, eastern, and central India.

Instead of the scorching highs people dread, temperatures have stayed unusually mild, with many places seeing maximums 8-13°C below normal for this time of year.

On May 7, the Hardoi observatory in Uttar Pradesh recorded a maximum of just 26°C, making it the coolest May day ever measured there.

Persistent easterly winds have kept the heat at bay, bringing pleasant mornings and evenings even as some afternoon heat creeps in.

Weather forecasts by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) suggest this cooler pattern could continue for large parts of the country.

But the question is, for how long?

TAME SUMMER SO FAR

India's summer started with warnings of intense heat.

March and April brought early heatwaves in some regions, with temperatures spiking and raising concerns about a brutal season ahead.

Parts of central and western India saw highs near or above 45°C even before May fully arrived. Forecasts pointed to above-normal heatwave days for the March-May period overall.

Yet the pattern has not been steady.

Rainfall and weather systems like western disturbances have repeatedly interrupted the heat. March and April were also not as warm as expected in many areas.

Now in May, widespread above-normal rainfall, which was predicted, is cooling things down by increasing cloud cover and preventing rapid warming.

This back-and-forth is not new but feels more noticeable recently.

Summers often begin early with spikes, only for rain or wind shifts to bring temporary relief before the real peak arrives. But the comfort has been frequent this season, and making many wary of the favourable conditions. Is there worse heat ahead?

WILL WEATHER GET HOTTER?

Long-term weather trends show that India's summers are becoming hotter and more extreme due to climate change.

Heatwaves have increased in frequency, intensity, and coverage over recent decades. Nighttime temperatures are rising notably, making heat stress worse as bodies get less relief after sunset, something India witnessed in April.

However, individual months or seasons can vary due to natural factors. The current cooler May does not cancel the broader warming.

The IMD has predicted that while daytime highs are normal to below normal in many places this month, some southern, northeastern, and northwestern regions may still see above-normal temperatures and more heatwave days.

Nights are warmer than usual across much of the country, and will remain so.

Trends continue to point to the possibility of a harsh summer peak in a few weeks. And the predicted arrival of El-Nino will further complicate things, delaying the monsoon and stretching summer well beyond its usual end.

Easterly winds, active weather systems bringing rain, and possibly La Nina-influenced patterns earlier have delayed the full onset of peak summer heat in northern and central plains.

Many hottest summer forecasts capture the overall risk correctly but cannot perfectly predict short-term variations caused by rainfall or wind patterns. These fluctuations show weather's complexity even as the climate warms steadily.

For now, many Indians are enjoying the unexpected mildness, which is also a reminder to stay prepared as hotter days are likely to return.

- Ends