North India Faces Intense Heatwaves as Temperatures Soar Past 40°C

Fri Apr 24 2026 11:27:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As temperatures rise above 40°C in parts of northern India, residents brace for heatwaves, prompting warnings from the weather department and measures from schools.

Northern India, including Delhi, is expected to experience significant heatwaves over the weekend with temperatures exceeding 40°C. The weather department has issued warnings for central and western regions as well, advising precautions due to the elevated risks associated with extreme heat. Schools have been instructed to reduce outdoor activities to safeguard children's health amid rising temperatures that may increase by an additional 2-3°C.

India's weather department has said that parts of northern India, including the capital Delhi, are likely to experience heatwaves over the weekend.

The warning came after temperatures crossed 40C in some parts of Delhi on Thursday, marking one of the city's hottest days this year.

The weather department also warned of above normal temperatures in some states in central and western India, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, for the next two to three days.

Summers can be deadly in India, as the scorching heat leads to various heat-related ailments and has even resulted in deaths.

On Friday, the weather department indicated that temperatures in northern and central India are likely to rise by another 2-3C.

Earlier in the week, Delhi's education department issued guidelines to schools to manage the adverse weather conditions, advising them to stop open-air classes and reduce outdoor assemblies while emphasizing the importance of regular hydration for students.

A 2024 report by the medical journal Lancet found that almost one-third of the heatwave days India experienced that year were attributable to climate change, leading to significant economic losses and health risks due to prolonged exposure to extreme heat.