The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued heatwave advisories in late April 2026 as temperatures rose across northern and central India [1, 2].
These extreme heat events pose significant public health risks, including dehydration and heatstroke, while signaling the intensifying impact of the global climate crisis on the region [1, 2, 5].
During the peak of the event on April 24 and 25, 2026, temperatures in several Indian regions crossed 44°C [2, 4]. Hyderabad recorded a temperature spike of 45°C [4]. In Delhi, the maximum temperature reached 41.9°C on April 25, which was 4.2°C above the normal reading and 0.2°C higher than the previous day [2]. Other reports indicated temperatures ranging between 42°C and 44°C [3].
The IMD utilizes a new heat-alert system that triggers warnings when temperatures exceed the historical 95th percentile for a specific location [3]. This system helps authorities manage the risk of worsening conditions in several states [1].
Experts link these temperature spikes to an El Niño event and a long-term warming trend. Data shows that India's land mass warmed by 0.88°C between 1980-1990 and 2015-2024 [5]. This is compared to a global average warming of 1.4°C over the same period [5].
Regional authorities said that the country has yet to see the worst of the heat extremes caused by the climate crisis [5]. The combination of regional warming and cyclical weather patterns continues to amplify the risk for millions of residents in urban centers like Delhi and Hyderabad [2, 4].
“Temperatures in several Indian regions crossed 44°C”
The 2026 heatwave demonstrates the compounding effect of long-term climatic warming and short-term weather phenomena like El Niño. By shifting to a percentile-based alert system, the IMD is attempting to move toward a more localized and precise risk-management model, acknowledging that 'normal' temperatures are shifting upward across the subcontinent.
