India Weather Today: No Relief From Heatwave For Next Few Days, Death Toll Rises

At least 16 people have died of heatstroke in Telangana this summer, with the state's revenue minister declaring that "the intensity of the heat has reached unprecedented levels" and ordering statewide vigilance. The victims include census workers, voters who stepped out during the West Bengal election, and a man who boarded a bus to attend a wedding and died before reaching his destination. Public health experts consistently warn that India's official death counts are a severe undercount, the real toll runs far higher.

On May 22, every single spot in the world's top 50 hottest cities list belonged to India . Odisha's Balangir hit 45°C by 10:50 am. Cities across the north and centre crossed 42°C well before lunch. Akola in Maharashtra's Vidarbha recorded 46.9°C , the country's peak so far this season. Delhi's skies on May 25 remain clear with severe heatwave conditions at multiple locations, surface winds gusting to 40 kmph, and no meaningful rainfall expected through May 28. Minimum temperatures in the capital are expected to rise by 3°C today before easing slightly.

What makes this phase especially dangerous is not just peak afternoon heat, nights are no longer cooling sufficiently , dramatically raising the risk of dehydration and heatstroke, particularly among children, the elderly, and outdoor workers. The scorching conditions have already driven India's power demand to a new national record .

In the northeast, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur are seeing widespread rainfall with thundersqualls gusting up to 70 kmph through this week, a continent away from the north's experience.

The one piece of good news: the southwest monsoon is projected to reach Kerala around May 26 , slightly ahead of schedule. However, the IMD warns that a developing El Niño , potentially a super event, threatens to disrupt the monsoon season, with serious implications for kharif crops and water reservoirs nationwide.

Stay indoors between noon and 4 pm. Drink water before you feel thirsty. The monsoon is almost here but almost is not today.