Amid the heat, meteorologists have indicated positive developments on the monsoon front.

Rising temperatures across large parts of north India are expected to persist over the coming days, even as the India Meteorological Department has indicated a likely early arrival of the southwest monsoon in the southern region of the country.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that severe heatwave conditions are likely in parts of West Uttar Pradesh, while isolated areas of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Vidarbha and East Uttar Pradesh may also experience extreme heat. Weather officials expect maximum temperatures in several northwestern states to climb by around three to five degrees Celsius during the next few days.

Amid the heat, meteorologists have indicated positive developments on the monsoon front. The southwest monsoon is likely to reach Kerala around May 26, earlier than its usual onset date of June 1.

The IMD said atmospheric conditions are becoming increasingly suitable for the monsoon to spread further into parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Islands and nearby sea regions over the next two to three days.

Heavy rainfall is forecast in Kerala and Mahe, Coastal Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while several northeastern and southern regions may also receive significant showers.