As scorching heatwaves were expected to grip the country like every other May, nature had a different plan in 2025. This month turned out to be an outlier — a May that brought more umbrellas than sun hats. Marked by a dramatic dip in temperatures, persistent thunderstorms, and an early monsoon, May 2025 has left meteorologists and climate experts both intrigued and concerned.
A May to Remember: Coldest in Decades
All corners of the country reported below-normal temperatures throughout May, offering widespread relief but also raising important questions. Central India, often a furnace during this time of year, recorded an average maximum temperature of 36.63°C — that’s 2.63°C below normal, making it the coolest May since 1933 and the third-lowest since 1901.
Meanwhile, South Peninsular India experienced its fifth-coolest May on record. The average maximum temperature in the region was 34.13°C, which is 2.25°C below normal — a level not seen since 1955. From farmers to city dwellers, millions noticed the unusual coolness in a month that typically scorches.
Not Just Cooler, But Stormier Too
What made May 2025 even more unusual wasn’t just the drop in mercury — it was the accompanying unprecedented thunderstorm activity. Some regions reported up to 20 thunderstorm days, a figure almost unheard of in Indian summers.
Experts are attributing this extreme storm frequency to atmospheric instability, possibly influenced by shifts in global wind patterns and ocean temperatures, all of which are part of the broader puzzle of climate variability. Thunderstorms not only brought rain and cool breezes but also disrupted transportation, downed power lines, and flooded urban areas — a mixed blessing indeed.
The Early Monsoon Effect
Adding to the anomaly, the southwest monsoon arrived earlier than expected, bringing with it higher-than-average rainfall. The monsoon’s early onset has long been associated with delayed or weakened heatwaves, but this year, the cooling effect was both intense and widespread.
Instead of battling 45-degree highs, most parts of the country witnessed frequent showers, cloud cover, and moderate winds, leading to a May that felt more like mid-June. While residents rejoiced, climatologists remained cautious, noting that this shift was abrupt and largely unpredictable — hallmarks of a climate system in flux.
Cooler Temperatures Don’t Mean Climate Change Is Slowing Down
It’s easy to think a colder month means the planet isn’t warming — but the science tells a different story. According to climate scientists, isolated cool spells do not counter global warming trends. Instead, they emphasize the increasing volatility of Earth’s climate.
“These aren’t signs that global warming is reversing,” explains a senior meteorologist at IMD. “They’re signs that the climate is becoming more unpredictable. Extreme cold and heat can co-exist in a world that’s heating unevenly.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has repeatedly warned that extreme weather events — whether heatwaves, floods, droughts, or cold snaps — will become more frequent and intense as climate change accelerates. May 2025 is a textbook example of such volatility.
Looking Ahead: Preparing for a New Climate Reality
May’s unexpected coolness serves as both a comfort and a caution. While immediate relief from heat is welcome, the underlying disruptions in weather patterns could have long-term consequences for agriculture, water resources, and urban planning.
India’s monsoon-dependent agriculture system is especially vulnerable to such fluctuations. An early and heavy monsoon could be followed by an erratic or weak second half, affecting crop cycles. Urban areas, too, must upgrade infrastructure to withstand sudden and severe weather events.
More than ever, climate adaptation strategies must be data-driven, flexible, and inclusive. From enhancing weather forecasting systems to designing climate-resilient cities, the time to act is now.
May 2025 has passed, but its message lingers: our climate is changing — not always in ways we expect, but always in ways we must be ready for.
