The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended a heatwave alert for Delhi until Tuesday, cautioning that daytime temperatures are likely to hover between 40°C and 42°C.
Similar warnings have also been issued for the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, according to the Hindustan Times.
On Friday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4°C, which is 4.4°C higher than the seasonal average. The minimum temperature stood at 19.5°C. On Saturday, temperatures are expected to peak around 40°C, accompanied by surface winds and prevailing heatwave conditions.
As per the IMD’s criteria, a heatwave is declared when temperatures exceed 40°C in plains, 37°C in coastal regions, and 30°C in hilly areas.
Citing The Times of India, meteorologists attribute the soaring temperatures to the dominance of warm and dry westerly winds. “The days to come will get winds with a prominent westerly component,” said meteorologist Mahesh Palawat. “During summers, westerly winds become warm and dry, so the maximum temperature will increase, and there are fair chances of heatwaves or isolated heatwaves over the next few days.”
On March 31, the weather department also predicted that from April to June, many regions across eastern and central India, the northwestern plains, and the northern and eastern parts of the peninsular region are likely to witness a higher-than-normal number of heatwave days.
This year, India experienced its warmest February since the beginning of official records in 1901. The IMD recorded a rise of 1.34°C in the average temperature for the month — from the usual 20.70°C to 22.04°C.
During 2024, the country registered 536 heatwave days, the highest count in 14 years. Nearly 40% of the nation experienced twice the typical number of heatwave days between April and June.
At the national scale, the IMD tallies heatwave days by summing up such occurrences across all 36 meteorological subdivisions. For instance, if five subdivisions record a heatwave on the same day, it counts as five heatwave days.
Due to the prolonged heat spell, India saw around 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases and more than 100 heat-related deaths.
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