Shillong, Apr 3: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Meghalaya is expected to experience above-normal temperatures along with below-normal rainfall during April-June 2026.
During the 2026 hot weather season, maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to above normal in most parts of Meghalaya, while minimum temperatures are also likely to remain above normal across most parts of the state.
For the month of April 2026, monthly maximum temperatures are likely to be above normal over many parts of Meghalaya, with minimum temperatures also expected to remain above normal over most areas. Despite the rise in temperatures, no heatwave days are likely over Meghalaya during the three-month period.
The outlook further indicates that rainfall over many parts of the North East, including Meghalaya, is likely to be below normal during this period. The expected warmer-than-usual conditions during both daytime and nighttime may lead to increased thermal discomfort, particularly during dry spells. The below-normal rainfall scenario may have implications for water availability and agricultural activities, especially in rain-dependent areas of the state.
The forecast is based on prevailing neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) also expected to remain neutral, indicating no strong large-scale climatic drivers to significantly enhance rainfall activity over the region during the season.
Meanwhile, the IMD also reported that 2025 was the hottest year in recorded history for Meghalaya, with an anomaly of +0.955 degrees Celsius. This continues a recent trend, with the next hottest year being 2023 (+0.904°C), followed by 2024 (+0.803°C), 2021 (+0.735°C) and 2022 (+0.605°C).
Temperatures for the first few days of April have already been significantly warmer compared to March, where unusually wet weather brought mercury levels down.
