As temperatures continue to soar with an intense heatwave across the national Capital, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh red alert for Delhi with maximum temperatures ranging between 44 degree Celsius and 46 degree Celsius in several areas. After this, the Health Ministry has urged people to stay indoors during peak hours, and stay hydrated.
“Extreme heat can be risky. Stay indoors during peak hours, eat lower-calorie food, drink safe fluids, and never leave kids or pets in parked cars,” the Health Ministry, said in a post on social media platform X. “Call 108/102 if someone shows signs of heatstroke,” it added. To protect from the heat, the IMD urged citizens to wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-coloured clothing. Cover your head using a hat, umbrella, towel, and drink water frequently, it said.
At 5:30 pm, Ayanagar was the hottest at 45.0 degrees Celsius, followed by Palam at 44.5 degrees Celsius, Ridge at 43.6 degrees Celsius, Pitampura at 43.5 degrees Celsius, Lodi Road at 43.4 degrees Celsius, Mayur Vihar at 40.9 degrees Celsius and Safdarjung — the city’s base station — reported 43.3 degrees Celsius, 3.4 notches above normal. The average minimum temperature was recorded 27.2 degree Celsius, which was also too high. Notably, the minimum temperature was recorded ranging between 25 degree Celsius and 29 degree Celsius in several weather stations.
Humidity levels in the Capital fluctuated between 31 per cent and 73 per cent, with dry northwesterly winds prevailing throughout the day, aggravating heat discomfort.
The maximum alert on Wednesday comes amid a forecast of continuing extreme conditions over the next two days. The alert, which signifies take action conditions, advises the public to avoid exposure to extreme heat, stay hydrated, and limit outdoor activity, especially for vulnerable populations. Warning of severe heatwave condition, the IMD has revised its orange alert for Delhi and revised it to a red.
A red alert implies a “take action” warning, urging residents to avoid heat exposure, remain hydrated and limit outdoor activity. It warns of a very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages and advises extreme care for vulnerable people.
Delhi has been witnessing erratic weather pattern, from late summers to record heatwaves, delayed monsoon to unusually chilly winters, in the last few years. This year, the seasonal patterns in the nation’s Capital and the nearby NCR cities of Gurugram, Noida, and Faridabad have completely changed.
A rare meteorological collision has occurred as the monsoon arrived early and the usual May peak heat arrived a month later than expected. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there were no heatwave days in Delhi during the month of May this year. The city gets ready for hot, dry days during this month, when temperatures usually routinely rise above 45°C. Because of the intense pre-monsoon activity, May was generally tolerable.
However, there may be some relief on June 13 night and June 14 as the western disturbances are likely to bring light showers. Humidity levels in the Capital remained moderate at 39 per cent during the early hours, but the combination of heat and dry south-westerly winds has worsened the discomfort.
Dr Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, stated that the severe heat across northwest India — including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan — is expected to persist till June 12. From June 13, an approaching western disturbance may bring partial relief in the form of light rain and thunderstorms, and an orange alert will replace the red.
“Northwest India is currently experiencing severe heat. Over the next 3-4 days, heatwave conditions are expected in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, northern Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan will remain under red alert for the next three days.
“Delhi-NCR is under red alert today and tomorrow, followed by an orange alert on June 13. Light rain and thunderstorms are possible on the night of June 13 due to a western disturbance, which may bring some relief,” Kumar said.
The forecast for Thursday predicts maximum temperatures of 43-45 degrees Celsius, along with gusty winds (40-60 kmph) and a chance of very light to light rain or thunderstorm activity by evening or night.
In an infographic shared along with the post, the Ministry urged people to avoid getting out in the sun, especially between 12:00 noon and 03:00 pm. It also urged citizens to avoid strenuous activities when outside in the afternoon, cooking during peak summer hours, and to open doors and windows to ventilate the cooking area adequately.
The Health Ministry advised citizens to avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated soft drinks or drinks with large amounts of sugar and importantly not to leave children or pets in parked vehicles.
Call 108/102 immediately if you find someone with a high body temperature and is either unconscious or confused, the advisory said.
“The heat is rising, but awareness can save lives! A heatwave isn’t just about soaring temperatures. It’s about knowing the risks, recognising the signs, and protecting each other. Let’s beat the heat together!” said the IMD on X.
The IMD’s daily weather bulletin issued at 2 pm states, “Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at many places across Delhi-NCR,” with temperatures ranging between 44 degrees Celsius and 46 degrees Celsius.