Wetter and not that Hot

Why is Summer of 2025 atypical so far?

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The summer of 2025 has proven to be an anomaly for India, marked by a departure from the usual, expected weather patterns.

The month of May, typically synonymous with intense heat, scorching temperatures, and relentless heatwaves, has so far presented a stark contrast. For the majority of the country, the summer months have been unusually mild, particularly compared to previous years, with weather patterns that defy historical norms. The absence of blistering heatwaves and the frequency of intense thunderstorms and rainfall have raised questions about the underlying climatic factors at play this year.

The Temperature Anomaly

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that no record-breaking temperatures have been reported across the country from March 1 to May 18, 2025. This marks a notable deviation from the usual scorching heat India experiences during this period. March saw temperatures above the normal range in Central India, but other parts of the country generally stayed within the expected bounds. By April, heatwaves made brief appearances in parts of Maharashtra, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, but they were short-lived and not as extreme as anticipated.

For the most part, the Core Heatwave Zone (CHZ)- which includes vast stretches of Central, North, and Peninsular India, from Gujarat to West Bengal-has remained relatively unaffected by the typical heatwave conditions. The heatwaves that usually dominate from March to June have been few and far between, with only isolated pockets of intense heat recorded, particularly in southwest Rajasthan on May 1. These patterns suggest that the usual oppressive heat experienced by millions in India has not materialized this summer.

A Wet and Thunderous May