India Grapples with Dual Weather Extremes: Heatwave and Storm Alerts Issued

India is experiencing severe weather conditions, with scorching heatwaves in the northern and central regions and heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and hailstorms in the east and south. The India Meteorological Department has issued red and orange alerts across multiple states.

Tue May 26 2026

India Faces Extreme Heat and Severe Storms Simultaneously

India is currently battling extreme weather, with heatwaves gripping the northern and central regions where temperatures have soared to between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius. Simultaneously, eastern and southern parts of the country are experiencing thunderstorms, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts, urging residents to take precautions. The capital, Delhi, and the Delhi-NCR region are expected to face a combination of heatwave conditions followed by thunderstorms and hailstorms later in the week.

IMD Issues Warnings for Heatwave in North, Storms in East and South

The IMD forecasts that severe heatwave conditions in northern India will persist until May 27th. Subsequently, from May 28th onwards, thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms are anticipated, offering some relief from the scorching temperatures. Alerts for strong winds, rain, and possible hail activity have been issued for Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad. Northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Himachal Pradesh remain under severe heatwave warnings, with Haryana's Sirsa recording temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, eastern and southern India are experiencing heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon advances. The IMD has predicted widespread rain and thunderstorms across West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, and parts of the Northeast over the coming days. Coastal southern states, including Kerala, are also seeing increased rainfall activity, and authorities have warned of rough sea conditions and potential travel disruptions in coastal regions.