Rajasthan Scorches Under Record-Breaking April Heat; Rain and Hail Bring Brief Respite, More Storms Expected in May

Jaisalmer Records Hottest April Day Ever at 46.4°C; IMD Predicts Rain, Dust Storms Until May 9 Across Northern India

JAIPUR, India – Rajasthan witnessed record-breaking heat in April 2025, with Jaisalmer hitting 46.4°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in the district for the month. Several other cities including Barmer, Kota, Jodhpur, and Bikaner

also experienced their hottest April in years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast for more rainfall and thunderstorms in the first week of May, offering temporary relief before the return of intense heatwaves.

Jaisalmer and Barmer Lead the Temperature Surge

On April 30, Barmer recorded 46.8°C, the highest temperature in Rajasthan this season and the hottest April day in the district since 2014

. Similarly, Jaisalmer broke its all-time April temperature record, with temperatures remaining above 46°C for three consecutive days from April 28 to 30.

In the past 12 years, Jaisalmer has seen April temperatures exceed 45°C on just four occasions. This year stands out, as the district surpassed its own historical extremes, far exceeding last year’s 42°C peak.

Kota, Jodhpur, and Bikaner Experience 5–6 Year Highs

• Kota registered 45.1°C, marking its second-highest April temperature in 12 years, just behind the 2018 peak of 45.6°C.

• Jodhpur reached 44.4°C on April 28, its hottest April day since 2019. Nearby Phalodi also recorded 45.8°C, reinforcing the scale of the heatwave.

• In Bikaner, Churu, Chittorgarh, and Sri Ganganagar, temperatures climbed 5–7°C above normal, crossing 44°C regularly throughout the month.

The soaring temperatures left roads deserted in cities like Jaisalmer as residents stayed indoors to avoid the blazing sun.

Rain, Hailstorms Offer Short-Lived Relief

The month wasn’t without interruptions in the extreme heat. A Western Disturbance between April 10–11 brought thunderstorms, rainfall, and hail to parts of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Hanumangarh, Alwar, Sikar, and Nagaur. The storm system temporarily brought down temperatures, but the relief was short-lived. By mid-April, heat returned with renewed intensity and persisted through the end of the month.

May Outlook: Temporary Relief Followed by Rising Heat

According to the IMD’s latest forecast, three consecutive weather systems are expected to impact Rajasthan and neighboring states in the first half of May, especially between May 5 and 9. These systems, fueled by an anti-cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea, are likely to bring moisture-laden winds, resulting in scattered rainfall and dust storms across Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Maharashtra.

Meteorologists warn, however, that temperatures will surge again

in the second half of May, with heatwave conditions returning and potentially intensifying in June.