Travel advisory for India: IMD warns of heat wave in several states; rain, thunderstorms likely across several regions |

High day-time temperature

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued by the National Weather Forecasting Centre at 0800 IST on April 21, 2026, forecast continuing heat wave conditions over several parts of north, central and eastern India, while rain and thunderstorm activity is likely across the Northeast, East, South and parts of West India over the coming days.According to the bulletin, heat wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of Bihar, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on April 21. The warning remains in place over Punjab, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh from April 21 to 24, while West Uttar Pradesh may continue to experience heat wave conditions from April 21 to 25.Moreover, heat waves have been forecast by the IMD for parts of West Rajasthan on April 22 and 23, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha from April 22 to 24, Gangetic West Bengal on April 22, and scattered areas of East Uttar Pradesh on April 23.

IMD weather forecast

Rainfall and thunderstorms in the Northeast

For the Northeast region, widespread to fairly widespread light to moderate rain with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusts of winds blowing at speeds of 30-50 kmph are expected to occur over Arunachal Pradesh on April 21, Assam and Meghalaya from April 21 to 24, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on April 21. Lightning activity has also been forecast over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on April 22 and 23.As per the bulletin, heavy rain is expected to fall over Arunachal Pradesh on April 21, 22, 25, and 26, while very heavy rain is also expected to occur over Arunachal Pradesh on April 21 and heavy rain over Assam and Meghalaya on April 21.Isolated to scattered showers with thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected over Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during April 21-26, over Odisha during April 21-24, over Jharkhand on April 24, and over Gangetic West Bengal on April 26. As per the bulletin, Bihar is likely to experience thundersqualls with wind speeds varying from 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph on April 21, 24 and 25.Northwest India will experience isolated to scattered showers, snowfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds over Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on April 24 and 25 and over Himachal Pradesh on April 25 and 26.Isolated light to moderate rains with thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected over Kerala and Mahe on April 21 and 22. The same weather conditions have been forecast over South Interior Karnataka, Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, and Rayalaseema for the period April 21-24. Lightning is expected over Tamil Nadu during April 21-23 and Coastal Karnataka and North Interior Karnataka during April 21-24.Light showers with thunderstorm activity and squally wind activity are expected in Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada from April 21 to 24, whereas lightning is expected in Konkan and Goa on April 21 and 23 according to IMD.IMD also issued a warning regarding the occurrence of hot and humid weather conditions in Gangetic West Bengal between April 21 and 26, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on April 21 and 22, Kerala and Mahe, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam from April 21 to 24, and coastal Gujarat on April 24 and 25. Warm nights are likely to occur at some isolated places in Haryana-Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha on April 21, and at some isolated places in Odisha on April 21 and 22.