Large parts of India continued to face an intense heatwave on Friday as temperatures climbed close to 48 degrees Celsius in several regions. The extreme weather pushed authorities to issue health advisories and warn people against prolonged exposure to the scorching heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue across northwest, central, eastern and parts of peninsular India till May 28.

Maximum Temperatures (as on 21-05-2026):
Yesterday, Maximum temperatures were in the range of 40-47°C over northwest, West, Central adjoining East & north Peninsular India.

Yesterday the highest maximum temperature of 47.6°C was reported at BANDA (UTTAR PRADESH).#HeatWave… pic.twitter.com/BdRjXnhkqU

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 22, 2026

Moreover, the combination of extremely hot days and unusually warm nights has sharply increased heat stress levels, especially in crowded urban areas and regions where people depend on outdoor work. Weather experts warned that the lack of nighttime cooling is making the situation more dangerous for vulnerable groups.

Gurgaon Power Outage Adds to Heatwave Misery

Amid the severe weather conditions, Gurgaon witnessed a major power outage on Friday night after a fault at a 220kV substation in Sector 72 disrupted electricity supply across several areas.

The blackout also affected Rapid Metro services. As a result, many commuters remained stranded and some were forced to walk along the metro tracks to reach nearby stations.

IMD Issues Heatwave Alert Till May 28

According to the IMD, heatwave conditions will likely continue across large parts of northwest, central and eastern India over the next six to seven days.

The weather department said East Uttar Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh could witness severe heatwave conditions between May 22 and May 28. Additionally, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are expected to face heatwave conditions during the same period, while severe heatwave spells may hit these regions from May 24 to May 27.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan is likely to continue experiencing extreme temperatures. The IMD predicted severe heatwave conditions over West Rajasthan between May 24 and May 28.

Several other regions, including Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of the Himalayan states, may also experience heatwave conditions on different days during the week.

The IMD further warned about “warm night” conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Odisha and Telangana. Such conditions keep temperatures unusually high even after sunset, making recovery from daytime heat more difficult.

Delhi-NCR Continues to Suffer Under Extreme Heat

Delhi remained under severe heatwave conditions as temperatures stayed well above normal across most parts of the national capital.

Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 43.3 degrees Celsius, while the Ridge observatory touched 44.4 degrees Celsius, among the highest readings in the city.

The IMD maintained a heatwave alert for Delhi till May 28 and warned that temperatures could rise further and touch 45 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

Although changing wind patterns brought slight relief to some areas, weather experts said hot desert winds are expected to intensify again soon. They also noted that isolated rain or thunderstorms may occur, but they are unlikely to significantly reduce daytime temperatures.

Uttar Pradesh Records Highest Temperature in India

Uttar Pradesh emerged as one of the worst-hit states during the ongoing heatwave. Banda recorded the highest temperature in the country at 47.6 degrees Celsius. Prayagraj recorded 46.6 degrees Celsius, while Varanasi registered 45.6 degrees Celsius.

The IMD issued a red alert for 10 districts in the state and warned of severe to very severe heatwave conditions.

Authorities in Banda also introduced unusual measures to reduce public exposure to heat. Officials switched off traffic signals during peak afternoon hours to reduce waiting time for commuters under direct sunlight.

Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana Face Severe Heatwave

Northwest India remained firmly under the grip of intense heat as hot and dry winds swept through Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.

Rohtak in Haryana recorded 45.3 degrees Celsius, while temperatures in parts of Faridabad crossed the 45-degree mark. Gurgaon also recorded temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius.

As a result, authorities issued an orange alert for Gurgaon from May 24 to May 27. Weather officials said dry weather and strong hot winds are likely to continue, with only limited chances of light rainfall.

Madhya Pradesh and Central India Witness Persistent Heat

Central India, especially Madhya Pradesh, continued to experience prolonged severe heat conditions. According to the IMD, East Madhya Pradesh is likely to remain under severe heatwave conditions throughout the forecast period.

At the same time, high nighttime temperatures are worsening the situation by increasing heat stress and limiting recovery from daytime heat.

Health experts warned that prolonged exposure to such conditions can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Eastern India Battles Heat and Humidity

Eastern states such as Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal are also facing rising temperatures along with high humidity levels.

Heatwave conditions are expected to continue in parts of Odisha and Jharkhand throughout the week. The IMD also warned of warm night conditions in Odisha till May 26.

Meteorologists explained that rising humidity is making the heat feel more intense, particularly in coastal and low-lying regions.

Heatwave Spreads Across Southern India

The heatwave has now spread to parts of southern India as well. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Telangana are expected to witness heatwave conditions on multiple days during the coming week.

In Vijayawada, civic authorities installed green shade nets at major intersections to provide relief to commuters and traffic personnel exposed to direct sunlight during afternoon hours.

Himalayan States Witness Unusual Heat Patterns

Even the Himalayan states are witnessing unusual weather patterns this year. The IMD forecast isolated heatwave conditions in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The warning highlighted the widespread impact of the ongoing heatwave across the country.

Government Issues Heatwave Advisory Amid Rising Temperatures

The government and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued heatwave advisories as temperatures in several parts of India neared 48 degrees Celsius. The IMD warned that severe heatwave conditions may continue across northwest, central, eastern and parts of southern India till May 28.

Authorities advised people to avoid direct sunlight during afternoon hours, stay hydrated and remain indoors whenever possible. The IMD also warned that high night temperatures are increasing health risks, especially for children, elderly people and outdoor workers.

Several states issued alerts, while local authorities introduced measures such as shade nets and traffic management to reduce public exposure to extreme heat.