No Relief For North India: Heatwave To Persist Till Month-End, IMD Issues Red Alert

Last Updated:May 24, 2026, 08:24 IST

The weather office has issued a red category warning for parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and adjoining regions for the next two days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are expected to persist across central India until the end of May, while northwest India is likely to remain under heat wave conditions from May 24 to 29 and east peninsular India from May 23 to 26.

The weather agency also forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, northeast India and adjoining eastern parts of the country over the next four to five days.

The southwest monsoon advanced further on Saturday into parts of the southwest Arabian Sea, southeast Arabian Sea, the Comorin area, southwest, southeast and east-central Bay of Bengal, and most parts of the Andaman Sea. According to the IMD, conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to progress further into additional areas of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the remaining parts of the Andaman Sea over the next three to four days.

The IMD said the monsoon is likely to arrive over Kerala on May 26, with a model error margin of ± four days, ahead of the normal onset date of June 1.

Heat wave conditions are expected to continue in isolated or some pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha until May 29, with severe heat wave conditions likely over east Uttar Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during the same period.

Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are also likely to witness heat wave conditions until May 29, while severe heat wave conditions may prevail in several pockets until May 27. Rajasthan is expected to remain under heat wave conditions until May 29, with severe conditions likely in isolated areas of west Rajasthan during the period.

The IMD further said heat wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of Telangana until May 26, west Jharkhand until May 25, Bihar on May 24, and interior Odisha and Chhattisgarh until May 27. Hot and humid weather is also expected over Gangetic West Bengal on May 24, coastal Odisha until May 27, and coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on May 24.

16 Dead In Telangana Due To Suspected Heatstroke

At least 16 people have died due to suspected heat stroke across seven districts in Telangana so far this summer, while neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has reported 319 sunstroke cases but no deaths, officials said on Saturday.

During a review meeting chaired by Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, officials said Jayashankar Bhupalpally district recorded four deaths, while Warangal Urban, Karimnagar and Nizamabad reported three deaths each.

“Jayashankar Bhupalpally district reported four deaths, while Warangal Urban, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts recorded three deaths each. One death each was reported from Jogulamba Gadwal, Rangareddy and Suryapet districts," an official statement from the minister’s office said.

The Telangana government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased, while the minister directed officials to speed up the compensation process.

West Disturbance To Affect Northwest India

A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from May 28 onwards.

The weather office has issued a red category warning for parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and adjoining regions for the next two days, while large parts of northwest and central India remain under an orange category warning for the next five days.

The IMD warned that regions under the red alert face a very high likelihood of heat illness and heat stroke across all age groups, with vulnerable populations requiring extreme caution. In orange alert areas, there is an increased possibility of heat illness among people exposed to prolonged sunlight or engaged in heavy work.

The weather department advised people to avoid heat exposure and dehydration and encouraged them to keep cool, especially vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

Separately, the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there is now a more than 90% probability of El Nino conditions developing during the June to August period. In India, El Nino is associated with harsher summers and weaker monsoon rainfall.

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