The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala on 26 May 2026, nearly a week ahead of the normal arrival date of 1 June, making it one of the earliest onsets recorded in nearly two decades. IMD declares the monsoon onset only after 60 per cent of designated rain stations record 2.5 mm or more rainfall on two consecutive days, along with the appropriate wind and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) signatures. The Southwest Monsoon had arrived over the South Andaman Sea and Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 16 May 2026, six days earlier than IMD's forecast. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded over Kerala and Tamil Nadu on 26 May. At the same time, the country witnessed contrasting weather as severe heat wave conditions continued over Central and Northwest India. The IMD warned that heat wave to severe heat wave conditions were likely over Central and Northwest India during the next 3-4 days, with severe heat wave conditions expected in some pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on 26 and 27 May. Maximum temperatures over Delhi were forecast to range between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius. The National Disaster Management Authority and IMD have operationalised Heat Action Plans across 23 states under the National Framework for Heat Wave Management. The Southwest Monsoon brings about 75 per cent of India's annual rainfall and is crucial for agriculture, drinking water supply, hydropower and overall economic activity.