Sat Apr 05 06:35:14 UTC 2025: ## India Braces for Six-Day Heatwave; Temperatures to Soar in Delhi

**New Delhi, April 5, 2025** – Northwest India is facing a severe heatwave warning, with temperatures in Delhi expected to reach a scorching 42 degrees Celsius over the next six days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Friday. The heatwave is predicted to impact several states including south Haryana, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and west Madhya Pradesh. The IMD forecasts a temperature increase of 2-4 degrees Celsius across central and northwest India.

This warning follows an earlier IMD announcement predicting higher-than-usual temperatures nationwide from April to June, with a significant increase in heatwave days across central, eastern, and northwestern India. Some states, including Uttar Pradesh (eastern region), Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, could experience 10-11 heatwave days—a stark contrast to the typical four to seven during this period. The IMD highlighted that 2024 was India’s warmest year on record, surpassing even the exceptionally harsh summer of 2023 which saw 536 heatwave days – the highest in 14 years.

The central government has urged states to prepare for a surge in heat-related illnesses. The early onset of heatwaves this year, with instances reported as early as February 27-28, underscores the increasing severity and frequency of these events, attributed largely to climate change. A 2022 study projected a tenfold increase in heatwave risk during the 21st century, potentially impacting over 70% of India’s landmass. The IMD data reveals that 12 of India’s warmest years have occurred since 2006, with 2016 remaining the hottest year to date.

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