The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) announced that the southwest monsoon may begin entering the southern regions of Myanmar in the next two days.

In early May, DMH had announced that the southwest monsoon would hit the southern regions of Myanmar between May 21 and 26. It is estimated that the monsoon can enter the delta areas between May 27 and June 2.

Currently, in the next two days, the southwest monsoon will start entering the southern regions. Cumulonimbus clouds are developing in the Ayeyawady and Taninthayi Regions and in Kachin, Shan, Kayin, and Mon States. In areas along the Cumulonimbus clouds' movement, weather phenomena such as strong winds accompanied by rain, thunder, lightning, and hail may occur. Therefore, it is recommended to be aware of these phenomena in advance, the DMH reported.

During the past 24 hours, rain or thundershowers have been widespread in Nay Pyi Taw, fairly widespread in the Taninthayi Region and Kayin and Mon States, scattered in the Bago Region and southern Shan State, and isolated in Upper Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, and Yangon Regions and Kachin and Chin States, with isolated heavyfalls in the Yangon Region. The weather has been partly cloudy in the remaining Regions and States.

Day temperatures were 5°C to 6°C above May average temperatures in the Magway, Bago, Yangon, and Ayeyarwady Regions, 3°C to 4°C above May average temperatures in Nay Pyi Taw, Lower Sagaing, Mandalay, and Taninthayi Regions and Shan, Rakhine, Kayah, Kayin, and Mon States, and 2°C above the May average temperature in Kachin State, and about May average temperatures in the Upper Sagaing Region and Chin State.

The significant day temperatures on May 19 were observed at 44.4°C in Chauk, 43.9°C in Aunglan, 43.8°C in Minbu, 43.3°C in Magway, 42.0°C each in Myinmu and Pyay, and 41.0°C each in Shwebo, Myingyan, Nyaung Oo, Pakokku, Taungdwingyi, Zaung Tu, Tharrawady, and Zalun, the DMH reported.