New Delhi residents can expect a temporary break from the relentless heat today, May 25, 2026, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts very light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, dust storms, and strong surface winds later in the day. Despite this brief respite, severe heatwave conditions are set to persist across the capital until at least May 27.
Heatwave to Continue, Major Relief After May 27
Temperatures in Delhi are projected to rise by 1-2°C over the next 24 hours, with no significant change expected until May 27. Following this period, a more substantial drop in maximum temperatures by 6-8°C is anticipated. Minimum temperatures are also expected to climb by 2-3°C in the coming day before falling by 4-5°C after May 29.
The IMD has maintained a yellow alert for Delhi until May 27, indicating severe heatwave conditions in some pockets of the city, along with Punjab and Haryana. Heatwave alerts are expected to continue until May 28 across these regions.
Regional Heatwave Alerts Across India
The intense heat is not confined to Delhi. On Sunday, Brahmapuri in Maharashtra recorded the highest maximum temperature nationwide at 47.2 degrees Celsius. Nearly 29 weather monitoring stations across India reported temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, with Delhi's Ayanagar and Ridge stations hitting 44.6 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has issued red alerts for severe heatwave conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra for May 25. Additionally, multiple states, including Telangana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Karnataka, are under orange alerts. Severe heatwave conditions are forecast to continue across Central and Northwest India until May 31, and across East and adjoining Peninsular India until May 27-29, with temperatures likely to reduce from May 29 onwards.
State-Specific Warnings
- West Rajasthan: Severe heatwave until May 30.
- Madhya Pradesh: Severe heatwave until May 28.
- Vidarbha: Severe heatwave until May 27.
- Uttar Pradesh: Severe heatwave until May 26.
- Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana: Severe heatwave until May 26.
- Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh: Warning zone from May 26 onwards.
Warm night conditions are also expected in parts of East Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha through May 25 and May 26.
Monsoon Progress in the South
While northern and central India endure scorching temperatures, the southwest monsoon continues its advance in the south. The IMD predicts isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala and Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and Northeast and adjoining East India over the next four to five days, signaling the monsoon's northward movement amid the widespread heatwave.