Heatwave alert in Delhi, temperature may soar up to 42 degrees Celsius

Northwest India is set to experience intense heatwave conditions over the next six days, with daytime temperatures in Delhi expected to soar to 42°C, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Friday.

The heatwave is likely to affect several regions, including south Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and western Madhya Pradesh.

According to the IMD, maximum temperatures across many parts of central and northwest India are forecast to rise by 2°C to 4°C during this period. In the capital, mercury levels could reach around 42°C by April 6 or 7.

Earlier this week, the IMD had warned that India is expected to witness above-normal temperatures between April and June, with an increased number of heatwave days in central and eastern India, as well as the northwestern plains.

Typically, India experiences between four and seven heatwave days during this three-month period. However, this year, several states are projected to exceed that average. These include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and the northern parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Some regions — notably eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha — could endure as many as 10 to 11 heatwave days.

Last year, India endured an exceptionally harsh summer, recording 536 heatwave days — the highest in 14 years. The year 2024 was also confirmed as the warmest on record, both in India and globally.

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This year, unseasonal heatwaves were reported as early as 27–28 February, and 5 April marked the first officially recorded heatwave day of 2025.

While heatwaves are a regular feature of India’s summer months, particularly in April and May, climate scientists caution that their frequency and intensity are being exacerbated by climate change. A 2022 study predicted that the risk of heatwaves could rise tenfold during the 21st century, with over 70% of India’s land area facing the threat of severe conditions.

Climate data shows that 12 of the warmest years in India have occurred since 2006, with 2016 remaining the hottest year on record.

(With inputs from PTI)