In its press release issued at 1450 hours IST on May 25, the IMD placed several regions under red, orange and yellow heat alerts, indicating varying degrees of heat-related risk across the country. Under the red alert, the department warned of a very high likelihood of heat illness and heat stroke across all age groups, calling for extreme caution, particularly for vulnerable populations.
A yellow alert has also been issued for areas where temperatures are expected to remain above normal, posing moderate health concerns, particularly for infants, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. The IMD advised the public to stay alert, avoid unnecessary heat exposure and follow basic heat-safety precautions.
Regions under orange alert include parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, where heatwave conditions are expected. The IMD said orange alerts indicate high temperatures with an increased likelihood of heat-related illness, especially for people exposed to prolonged heat or engaged in heavy outdoor work. It advised people to avoid heat exposure, remain hydrated, and take preventive measures.
According to the IMD, maximum temperatures recorded as of May 24 ranged between 43°C and 47°C over parts of Northwest India, Central India, adjoining Uttar Pradesh, and east and north Peninsular India, while remaining between 40°C and 43°C over most other regions, except Northeast India, the Western Himalayan region and parts of west south Peninsular India.
The highest maximum temperature of 47.2°C was reported at Brahmpuri in Vidarbha. Night temperatures were also reported to be appreciably above normal over several regions, leading to warm night conditions in isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
The IMD stated that no significant change in maximum temperatures is likely over many parts of Northwest and Central India till May 28, followed by a gradual fall of 6-8°C over Northwest India and 2-4°C over Central and East India between May 29 and May 31. However, heatwave conditions are expected to persist over parts of Rajasthan even as temperatures ease elsewhere.
Alongside the heatwave warning, the IMD forecast isolated heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over Northeast India during the next six to seven days, with extremely heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya on May 25.
Heavy rainfall is also likely over Kerala and Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next few days, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-60 kmph, with thundersqualls gusting up to 70-80 kmph in some regions.
Hailstorm activity has also been forecast at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and North Interior Karnataka.
The IMD further stated that conditions are favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Comorin Area, Bay of Bengal and remaining parts of the Andaman Sea. The warning comes as vast parts of the country battle extreme temperatures, rising health risks and volatile weather conditions, placing millions under heightened weather surveillance in the days ahead.
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