The world experienced its second-hottest May ever recorded in 2026, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The month was the warmest recorded since 1850, NOAA concluded after analysing weather data going back centuries.
During May 2026, the global average surface air temperature reached 15.79°C, making it the warmest May since 2024 and continuing a run of exceptionally hot months worldwide.
While the record-setting global temperatures played out across continents and oceans, India experienced the heat viscerally, with impacts felt across regions and by millions.
Scorching afternoons, unusually warm nights and a series of intense heatwaves swept the country before the delayed arrival of the monsoon on June 4.
WHY WAS MAY 2026 SO HOT?
May 2026 was about 1.4°C warmer than the pre-industrial average, highlighting the long-term warming trend driven by climate change, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
The world’s oceans also remained exceptionally warm.
Global sea-surface temperatures ranked as the second-highest ever recorded for May, while the tropical Pacific Ocean continued moving toward El Nino conditions, a climate pattern that can add further warmth to global temperatures.
The developing El Nino conditions combined with several other factors like heat domes, urban heat island effects, and climate change patterns worsening over decades to make May unbearable.
Scientists say these figures illustrate how persistently warm the planet has remained even after the record-breaking temperatures seen over the past few years.
INDIA’S SCORCHING EXPERIENCE IN MAY
India’s experience in May reflected the broader global trend, with severe heat gripping large parts of the country before the delayed arrival of the monsoon.
Rajasthan emerged as the epicentre of the month’s extreme temperatures. Sri Ganganagar recorded 48.2°C on May 27, among the highest temperatures observed anywhere in India this year.
Churu also crossed 48°C while several locations across western Rajasthan repeatedly recorded temperatures of 46-48°C.
The heat did not stay confined to just Rajasthan and extended across northwestern India.
Parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi experienced severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures in several areas climbing above 45°C during peak spells. Hot, dry winds further intensified the heat, making outdoor conditions particularly challenging.
But it was not just the daytime temperatures that stood out.
Many parts of northern and central India also experienced unusually warm nights, with temperatures remaining well above normal after sunset. Such conditions are considered especially dangerous because they reduce the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat exposure.
The intense heat persisted across many regions until weather patterns began shifting ahead of the southwest monsoon’s onset over Kerala on June 4.
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE?
Scientists caution that no single month or heatwave can be attributed entirely to climate change.
Decades of observations, however, show that rising global temperatures are increasing the likelihood of extreme heat events. The fact that May 2026 became the second-hottest May ever recorded globally offers another reminder of that trend.
For India, where temperatures approached 50°C in some areas and millions endured weeks of relentless heat, the month’s weather provided an explicit example of how climate change is increasingly translating into real-world impacts.
As the world continues to warm, experts warn that extreme heat is likely to become more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting, posing growing challenges for public health, agriculture and infrastructure.
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