Haryana ended May 2026 with rainfall broadly in line with historical averages, according to the India Meteorological Department, Chandigarh. The state received 20.7 mm of precipitation against a normal of 20.1 mm — a marginal surplus of just three per cent.
However, there was an uneven distribution across the state’s 22 districts, with some recording record highs while others suffered severe shortfalls.
Kurukshetra recorded 36.5 mm against a normal of just 14.9 mm, marking a surplus of 145 per cent. Nuh was the most extreme outlier, receiving 40.8 mm against a normal of 17.1 mm, a 139 per cent departure.
Other districts that recorded notable excesses include Panipat (+110%), Palwal (+89%), Karnal (+83%), Mahendragarh (+69%), and Charkhi Dadri (+44%).
Rohtak and Kaithal among worst-hit for rainfall deficit
At the other end of the spectrum, Rohtak received just 8.3 mm against a normal of 25.5 mm — a deficit of 67 per cent, the worst in the state. Kaithal recorded only 6.6 mm against a normal of 15.1 mm, a shortfall of 56 per cent. Bhiwani (-48%), Hisar (-36%), and Jhajjar (-35%) also reported large deficits. Fatehabad was the most consistent performer, receiving 16.2 mm against a normal of 16.3 mm — a departure of just -1 per cent, essentially matching its historical average for the month.
Scorching temperatures: Ambala and Hisar breach 45°C mark
Even as rainfall remained broadly adequate, May 2026 was a punishing month for heat across Haryana’s major cities. Ambala saw its highest maximum temperature reach 45.8°C on May 21 — the highest recorded in that station in at least a decade. Hisar was close behind at 45.4°C on May 21, while Karnal touched 44.6°C on May 20, matching its 10-year record high set in 2024.
Last year — May 2025 — was exceptional by any measure, with Haryana recording 59.7 mm of rainfall, a departure of +193 per cent above normal. By comparison, 2026’s 20.7 mm reading represents a sharp normalisation. The IMD data spanning 2000 to 2026 shows significant year-to-year variability: the all-time peak was 72.1 mm in 2008, while 2013 saw the driest May on record with just 1.4 mm — a deficit of 90.5 per cent.
City-level records tell a similar story. Karnal’s highest-ever May rainfall in the past decade was 179.4 mm in 2025, while Hisar’s peak was 132.0 mm, also in 2025. Both cities received substantially lower rainfall in 2026, consistent with the state-wide return to near-normal levels.
