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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that severe heatwave conditions will persist across large parts of central
May 23, 2026: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday warned that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue across central India till the end of May. According to the weather agency, northwest India will remain under intense heatwave conditions between May 24 and May 29, while eastern peninsular regions are expected to face similar conditions till May 26. Maximum temperatures between 45°C and 47°C were recorded across several states on Friday, with Brahmpuri in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region registering the highest temperature at 47.2°C.
The IMD has issued red alerts for parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas for the next two days, while orange alerts remain in place for large parts of northwest and central India for the next five days. Severe heatwave conditions are likely in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha. The weather department warned that vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, face a high risk of heat-related illnesses and heatstroke. IMD Director General M Mohapatra said any temporary drop in temperature due to thunderstorms would be short-lived and dry conditions would continue to dominate the plains.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has advanced further into parts of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. IMD said conditions are favourable for further advancement over the next three to four days and forecast that the monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala by May 26, earlier than the normal onset date of June 1. The department also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu and northeastern states during the coming days. Additionally, the latest forecast by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated a more than 90 per cent chance of El Nino conditions developing during June-August, which could lead to harsher summer conditions and a weaker monsoon in India.