India is bracing for an intense and prolonged heatwave as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued widespread alerts across multiple regions, warning of dangerously high temperatures over Northwest, Central, and East India on April 23, following record-breaking heat conditions in several states.
A day earlier, Odisha’s Jharsuguda recorded a scorching 44.6°C, while Maharashtra’s Wardha touched 44.2°C, reflecting the severity of the ongoing heat spell. The IMD has cautioned that such extreme weather conditions are likely to persist for the next 3 to 4 days.
Heat Wave Alert!
Heat wave conditions likely over major parts of plains of Northwest, Central India and East India during next 4-5 days.
Stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours, and take necessary precautions.#HeatWaveAlert #StayHydrated #HeatSafety… pic.twitter.com/iFizK0Gyux
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 22, 2026
A yellow alert has been issued for heatwave conditions in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, while West Bengal remains under an orange warning due to more severe temperature risks. Several regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya, Kerala, Tripura, and East Uttar Pradesh, recorded temperatures around 5°C above normal on Wednesday. Jammu and Kashmir also saw a deviation of 5.1°C above average.
Authorities have urged citizens in affected regions to stay hydrated, avoid exposure to direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours, and take precautions against heatstroke.
In its official press release, IMD stated, “Heat wave conditions very likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh & Delhi, on 24th & 25th; West Uttar Pradesh during 23rd & 25th; East Uttar Pradesh during 22nd -26th; Rajasthan during 24th -26th; Madhya Pradesh during 23rd -26th, Vidarbha & Chhattisgarh during 24th -27th; Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar & Jharkhand on 23rd April.”
Hot and humid conditions are also expected across Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam until April 26, while Gangetic West Bengal may continue experiencing similar conditions until April 25. Southern states including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala will face heat stress until April 24, and Gujarat is expected to remain affected for the next two days, with Coastal Karnataka already experiencing such conditions.
The bulletin also warned, “Warm night conditions very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi during 23rd – 25th; Odisha during 24th -26th; Konkan & Goa during 23rd -25th April.”
IMD further noted a gradual rise in temperatures by 3 to 5°C over Northwest India and 2 to 4°C over Central India until April 26, followed by slight cooling thereafter. Meanwhile, isolated heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Northeast India, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and surrounding regions between April 23 and 26.
