A severe heatwave has swept across northwest and central India, pushing temperatures to a blistering 48°C in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar, the highest recorded in the country. In Delhi, the national capital, weather stations reported maximum temperatures ranging from 40.9°C to 45°C. However, the heat index, which factors in humidity to measure perceived heat, soared to a staggering 51.9°C, making conditions unbearable for residents.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the intense heatwave is expected to persist until June 13. Relief may follow as light to moderate rainfall is forecast in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The IMD also noted that the southwest monsoon, which stalled along Maharashtra’s coast around May 26-27, is likely to regain momentum within the next two to three days.
Despite an early monsoon onset that kept May cooler than usual, the absence of rain in June has fueled the heatwave across northwest and central India since June 8-9. A total of 22 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh recorded temperatures of 44°C or higher.
In Rajasthan, Sri Ganganagar’s peak temperature of 48°C was 6.5°C above normal. Other areas in the state, including Chittorgarh (45.7°C), Churu and Phalodi (45.8°C), and Jaipur (44.4°C), also endured extreme heat.
