Delhi-NCR and several parts of north India continue to face extreme heatwave conditions, though a western disturbance may bring rainfall relief
May 21, 2026: Delhi-NCR and many parts of north India remain under intense heatwave conditions, with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius in several areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram, warning that severe heat is likely to continue for the next several days. Delhi also recorded its hottest May night in nearly 14 years, with the minimum temperature touching 31.9 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, IMD satellite images from the INSAT-3DS weather system have shown a western disturbance developing near northern India. According to IMD scientist Naresh Kumar, the system has started affecting the Himalayan region and may bring rainfall to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh in the coming days. The satellite images also showed increased cloud activity over Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Arabian Sea and parts of the Bay of Bengal.
Despite the approaching western disturbance, IMD said heatwave conditions are expected to continue across northwest, central and eastern India for the next six to seven days. An orange alert has been issued for states including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, while a red alert remains in place for parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, eastern Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha. Weather officials said the western disturbance could gradually reduce temperatures in some northern states, though its overall impact is still being assessed.