Weather Today, 18 May 2026: India woke up to two sharply different weather realities on Monday, May 18 while Northern and central regions continued to reel under intense heatwave conditions, while southern and northeastern states prepared for thunderstorms, rainfall and gusty winds. According to the latest data from India Meteorological Department, temperatures in parts of northwest India are running 3°C to 5°C above seasonal averages and the combination of dry winds, clear skies and delayed moisture has accelerated heating across major cities including Delhi, Jaipur and Lucknow.
Will it Rain or Snow in the Hills?
Higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir may witness light rain and isolated snowfall in elevated regions later this week. Srinagar is expected to remain comparatively cooler with temperatures ranging between Minimum at 11°C | Maximum at 22°C. The hill states are likely to experience cloudy intervals, especially during evening hours, while tourist areas may receive brief showers accompanied by moderate winds.
Why Is The Heat Building Up So Fast Across India?
Meteorologists point to three primary reasons behind the sharp rise in temperatures:
- Dry western winds dominating northern plains
- Lack of widespread pre-monsoon rainfall
- Persistent clear skies increasing solar heating
Vidarbha recorded some of the country’s highest temperatures recently, with Amravati and Wardha touching nearly 46°C. Northwest India may see another 3°C to 5°C increase by May 21.
Where are the Heat Wave Alerts?
- Delhi
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Chandigarh
- Rajasthan
- Uttar Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Vidarbha region
- Parts of Gujarat
When Will the Monsoon Arrive in India
- Expected arrival in Kerala: around May 26, 2026
- Early advance already seen in Andaman & Nicobar
- Full northern spread likely by late June
- Delay due to weak cross-equatorial winds
Delhi-NCR Weather Today
Minimum: 34°C | Maximum: 46°C
Delhi-NCR remains under severe heatwave conditions. Strong surface winds between 20 and 30 kmph are expected, with gusts touching 40 kmph. Clear skies will dominate most of the day, increasing heat stress levels across the region.
Chennai Weather Today
Minimum: 29°C | Maximum: 37°C
Chennai may experience humid conditions with isolated thunder activity later in the evening while coastal moisture continues to keep humidity levels elevated despite scattered cloud cover.
Mumbai Weather Today
Minimum: 29°C | Maximum: 31°C
Mumbai will remain comparatively stable due to sea breeze influence while humidity will remain high, though intermittent clouds could provide short-lived relief during evening hours.
Hyderabad Weather Today
Minimum: 30°C | Maximum: 41°C
Hyderabad is expected to remain hot and dry through most of the day and wind speeds may touch 8 kmph with warm nighttime conditions continuing.
Karnataka Weather Today
Minimum: 24°C | Maximum: 36°C
Interior Karnataka may witness isolated thunderstorms and even hailstorm activity in some districts while coastal Karnataka could receive scattered rainfall with gusty winds up to 50 kmph.
Uttar Pradesh Weather Today
Minimum: 33°C | Maximum: 45°C
Heatwave conditions are intensifying rapidly across Uttar Pradesh while several districts may witness severe heat conditions beginning May 19.
Rajasthan Weather Today
Minimum: 31°C | Maximum: 43°C
Rajasthan continues to remain one of the hottest regions in the country and the IMD expects heatwave conditions to persist until at least May 23.
Jammu and Kashmir Weather Today
Minimum: 11°C | Maximum: 22°C
Cooler weather continues across the Kashmir Valley and light rain activity remains possible in isolated higher-altitude regions.
Punjab Weather Today
Minimum: 29°C | Maximum: 44°C
Punjab remains under active heatwave warning while dry conditions and strong winds are expected throughout the day.
Ahmedabad Weather Today
Minimum: 29°C | Maximum: 43°C
Ahmedabad will continue to witness intense daytime heat and dry winds from western regions are likely to maintain elevated temperatures.
Dharamshala Weather Today
Minimum Temperature: 24°C | Maximum Temperature: 37°C
Dharamshala will experience hot and hazy weather today with mostly clear skies throughout the region and winds are expected to blow at 10-15 km/h during the day and night, while humidity levels may remain between 34% and 45%. The UV index is extremely high, making afternoon outdoor exposure uncomfortable.
City-Wise Sunset & Sunrise Timing
| City | Sunrise | Sunset |
| Delhi | 05:28 AM | 07:06 PM |
| Srinagar | 05:21 AM | 07:22 PM |
| Mumbai | 06:03 AM | 07:06 PM |
| Jaipur | 05:37 AM | 07:08 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 05:57 AM | 07:14 PM |
| Lucknow | 05:17 AM | 06:48 PM |
| Hyderabad | 05:43 AM | 06:41 PM |
| Chandigarh | 05:26 AM | 07:12 PM |
Full City-Wise Rain Forecast Across Major Cities
| City | Minimum Temp | Maximum Temp | Rain Forecast | Weather Condition |
| Delhi | 34°C | 46°C | 5% | Severe heatwave, dry winds |
| Mumbai | 29°C | 31°C | 45% | Humid with cloudy spells |
| Chennai | 29°C | 37°C | 55% | Thunderstorms likely |
| Bengaluru | 22°C | 33°C | 60% | Evening showers possible |
| Hyderabad | 30°C | 41°C | 15% | Hot and mostly dry |
| Kolkata | 28°C | 36°C | 40% | Humid with scattered rain |
| Ahmedabad | 29°C | 43°C | 10% | Dry and extremely hot |
| Jaipur | 31°C | 43°C | 5% | Heatwave conditions |
| Lucknow | 33°C | 45°C | 8% | Very hot with strong winds |
| Chandigarh | 29°C | 44°C | 12% | Heatwave alert active |
| Srinagar | 11°C | 22°C | 35% | Cool with light showers |
| Shimla | 14°C | 24°C | 40% | Cloudy with isolated rain |
| Dehradun | 24°C | 37°C | 25% | Warm with evening clouds |
| Patna | 30°C | 41°C | 20% | Hot and humid |
| Guwahati | 24°C | 31°C | 85% | Heavy rain and thunderstorms |
| Shillong | 18°C | 24°C | 90% | Widespread rainfall |
| Kochi | 25°C | 31°C | 80% | Strong pre-monsoon showers |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 26°C | 32°C | 75% | Thunderstorms expected |
| Mangaluru | 25°C | 33°C | 70% | Coastal rain likely |
| Pune | 25°C | 38°C | 20% | Hot with isolated clouds |
| Nagpur | 31°C | 45°C | 10% | Intense dry heat |
| Bhopal | 29°C | 42°C | 12% | Heatwave conditions |
| Amritsar | 28°C | 43°C | 8% | Hot and windy |
| Jammu | 24°C | 39°C | 18% | Warm with partly cloudy skies |
| Leh | 5°C | 18°C | 15% | Cold and dry conditions |
How Will Rising Temperatures Impact?
Extreme heat can severely affect public health, power demand and water supply systems. Doctors warn that prolonged exposure may trigger dehydration, fatigue and heatstroke, particularly among children and elderly populations while agricultural regions may also face moisture stress due to reduced rainfall and rising evaporation levels.
Delhi NCR Weekly Weather Forecast
| Day | Forecast Temperature |
| Monday | 34°C – 46°C |
| Tuesday | 35°C – 46°C |
| Wednesday | 34°C – 45°C |
| Thursday | 33°C – 44°C |
| Friday | 33°C – 44°C |
| Saturday | 34°C – 45°C |
| Sunday | 35°C – 46°C |
Delhi’s Air Quality Today – May 18, 2026
Delhi’s air quality remains in the “Poor” category due to dust accumulation and stagnant atmospheric conditions while rising temperatures combined with dry winds are contributing to elevated particulate matter levels across several NCR zones.
Major Cities Air Quality Across India
| City | AQI Level | Air Quality Status | Primary Pollutant |
| Delhi | 268 | Poor | PM2.5, Dust |
| Mumbai | 118 | Moderate | PM10 |
| Chennai | 82 | Satisfactory | PM2.5 |
| Bengaluru | 64 | Good | PM10 |
| Hyderabad | 104 | Moderate | Dust Particles |
| Kolkata | 136 | Moderate | PM2.5 |
| Ahmedabad | 182 | Moderate | PM10 |
| Jaipur | 241 | Poor | Dust, PM2.5 |
| Lucknow | 255 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| Chandigarh | 198 | Moderate | Dust |
| Srinagar | 58 | Good | PM10 |
| Pune | 96 | Satisfactory | PM2.5 |
| Patna | 214 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| Bhopal | 172 | Moderate | PM10 |
| Amritsar | 206 | Poor | Dust |
| Guwahati | 72 | Satisfactory | PM2.5 |
| Kochi | 54 | Good | Sea Salt Aerosols |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 49 | Good | PM10 |
| Nagpur | 188 | Moderate | PM2.5 |
| Jammu | 122 | Moderate | Dust |
| Dehradun | 92 | Satisfactory | PM10 |
| Shimla | 41 | Good | Clean Mountain Air |
| Leh | 28 | Good | Minimal Pollution |
| Raipur | 196 | Moderate | PM2.5 |
| Bhubaneswar | 110 | Moderate | PM10 |
FAQ’s
1. Are there any travel or safety warnings?
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into parts of the Arabian Sea, Kerala coast and Bay of Bengal until May 22 due to strong winds and rough sea conditions.
2. Will temperatures rise across the country?
Yes, especially across northwest and central India where temperatures may rise another 3°C to 5°C this week.
3. Will there be any rain today?
Yes. Southern and northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Kerala and coastal Karnataka are expected to receive rainfall and thunderstorms.
4. Where will it snow today?
Light snowfall may occur in isolated higher-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and nearby Himalayan regions.
5. When will the monsoon reach Kerala?
Current forecasts suggest the southwest monsoon could arrive over Kerala around May 26, with a margin of four days earlier or later.
Disclaimer: Weather forecasts are for guidance only. Conditions may change rapidly. Always check local authorities for emergencies and travel alerts.
