Get Ready For Showers! Southwest Monsoon Likely To Reach Kerala On May 26 | Check State-Wise Forecast

Last Updated:May 24, 2026, 12:58 IST

IMD says southwest monsoon may hit Kerala by May 26, bringing early relief, with earlier than usual rains forecast for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Amid rising temperatures and heatwave conditions across the country, the southwest monsoon is expected to bring early relief this year. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon is likely to reach Kerala around May 26, nearly a week before its usual onset date of June 1.

Conditions over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are becoming increasingly favourable for the monsoon’s advance, raising hopes of an early start to the rainy season in several states.

Kerala: Monsoon May Arrive Early

The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in southern Kerala and yellow alerts for several other districts, signalling an active monsoon onset. The monsoon had already reached the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on May 16 and is expected to advance further over the southeast Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in the coming days.

Bihar: Relief Likely By Second Week Of June

Bihar could witness an early monsoon arrival this year, offering respite from the intense heatwave conditions. According to weather experts, the monsoon may enter the state between June 8 and 10, earlier than the usual June 15 timeline. If forecasts hold, rainfall activity could begin by the second week of June.

Uttar Pradesh: Eastern Districts To Receive Monsoon First

The Bengal branch of the monsoon is expected to first impact eastern Uttar Pradesh. Districts including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Deoria, Azamgarh, and Prayagraj may receive pre-monsoon rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds between June 18 and 20.

Central UP, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Ayodhya, and Raebareli, may witness widespread rain between June 20 and 25, which could lower temperatures significantly. In western UP, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Agra, monsoon activity is likely to become active between June 25 and 30.

Rajasthan: Southeast Region To Get Rain First

The IMD has indicated that Rajasthan may also receive the monsoon earlier than normal this year. Rainfall is expected to begin in southeastern districts such as Kota, Udaipur, Banswara, Jhalawar, and the Hadoti region between June 15 and 20.

However, western Rajasthan districts like Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, and Jodhpur may have to wait until the first or second week of July for widespread monsoon coverage.

West Bengal: Heavy Rain Alert In North Bengal

North Bengal is expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next several days. Districts from Darjeeling to Cooch Behar may experience thunderstorms, strong winds, and intense rain spells till next week.

South Bengal, however, is likely to remain hot and humid, with temperatures in some western districts touching 40 degrees Celsius. Only isolated thunderstorm activity is expected in the region.

Maharashtra: No Major Activity Yet

Despite cloudy conditions in Mumbai and nearby regions, meteorologists said there is no significant monsoon movement towards Maharashtra at present. Experts clarified that the official onset over Kerala remains the key trigger before the monsoon can advance meaningfully towards the state.

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