Delhi heatwave: IMD Orange Alert till May 27 as rain gives brief respite
Synopsis
Saturday's rain in Delhi was a tease, not a turning point. The IMD's Orange Alert runs until 27 May, temperatures could still hit 46°C, and storm warnings now span 13 states. With the southwest monsoon advancing but the capital still a week away from relief, Delhi's pre-monsoon whiplash — dust storms one hour, scorching heat the next — is far from over.
Key Takeaways
IMD has issued an Orange Alert for Delhi-NCR valid until 27 May , warning of continued severe heatwave conditions.
Maximum temperatures in parts of Delhi may reach 46–47 degrees Celsius over the coming days.
Temperatures at Safdarjung rose more than 7 degrees in ten days — from 37.5°C on 11 May to 45.1°C on 19 May .
Despite readings between 43 and 44°C , Delhi has not yet officially met the IMD's technical 'heatwave' classification criteria.
Stormy rainfall warnings have been issued across 13 states ; heavy rain expected in Kerala , Tamil Nadu , Karnataka , and northeastern states.
The southwest monsoon is expected to advance further into the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal within the next 3–4 days .
Light rain and overcast skies on Saturday, 23 May offered fleeting relief to residents of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), breaking a brutal stretch of heat that had gripped the capital for over a week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has, however, issued an Orange Alert for Delhi-NCR, warning that severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist until 27 May, with maximum temperatures potentially touching 46 degrees Celsius in several parts of the city.
Brief Relief, Bigger Warning
Dust storms, gusty winds, and intermittent showers swept through parts of the capital on Saturday morning, giving residents a short break from what had been described as furnace-like conditions. Daily wage workers and commuters were among the most visibly relieved — a taxi driver noted that the extreme heat until Friday had affected not only his daily routine but also his vehicle's performance, while an auto-rickshaw driver said the cooler Saturday weather brought some comfort after days of unbearable temperatures.
Despite the respite, the IMD's Orange Alert makes clear that the relief is temporary. Temperatures in Delhi are forecast to remain between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius in some areas over the coming days, with wind speeds reaching up to 35 kilometres per hour.
How Hot Has Delhi Actually Been
IMD data shows a sharp upward trajectory over the past fortnight. On 11 May, the maximum temperature at Safdarjung — Delhi's primary weather station — stood at 37.5 degrees Celsius. By 19 May, it had surged to 45.1 degrees Celsius, and on 20 May it remained at 44.5 degrees — a rise of more than seven degrees in under ten days.
On Wednesday, Safdarjung recorded a maximum of 44.5 degrees Celsius, which was 4.1 degrees above the seasonal average. On Friday, the reading eased marginally to 43.3 degrees Celsius, still 3.1 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 29.3 degrees Celsius, itself 2.6 degrees above the seasonal average. Other stations recorded similarly elevated readings: Lodhi Road at 43.4°C, Aya Nagar at 43.5°C, Palam at 43.2°C, and the Ridge area at the highest, 44.4°C.
Notably, the IMD clarified that despite temperatures hovering between 43 and 44 degrees Celsius, Delhi has not yet officially crossed its technical threshold to be classified as a 'heatwave' under departmental criteria.
Storm Warnings Across 13 States
Beyond Delhi, the IMD has warned of stormy rainfall activity across 13 states, with strong winds of up to 65 kilometres per hour expected in several regions. Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for northeastern states as well as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka in the south.
The department attributed the activity to the advancing southwest monsoon, which is expected to progress further into the southeast Arabian Sea, the southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of the Andaman Sea, and additional areas of the east-central Bay of Bengal over the next three to four days. This advancement is expected to trigger widespread rainfall across southern and northeastern India.
What Comes Next
The IMD's Orange Alert for Delhi-NCR remains in force until 27 May, signalling that the current pre-monsoon instability — marked by alternating dust storms, brief showers, and searing heat — is far from over. For the capital's residents, particularly outdoor workers and daily commuters, the coming week is set to demand continued caution. The monsoon's northward progression will be the key variable to watch.
Point of View
Yet the city technically does not qualify as a 'heatwave' under IMD's own criteria. That classification gap matters — it affects whether state governments trigger heat action plans and emergency health advisories. Meanwhile, the 13-state storm warning and monsoon advance are being reported as a separate story, when in reality they are the same pre-monsoon system creating this volatile, dangerous whiplash. The real risk to ordinary Delhiites — outdoor workers, the elderly, daily commuters — is not being communicated with the urgency the numbers demand.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IMD Orange Alert issued for Delhi?
The IMD has issued an Orange Alert for Delhi and the NCR warning that severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist until 27 May 2025, with maximum temperatures potentially reaching 46 degrees Celsius in several parts of the city.
Has Delhi officially entered a heatwave as per IMD criteria?
Not officially. Despite temperatures hovering between 43 and 44 degrees Celsius, Delhi had not yet crossed the IMD's technical threshold for a formal 'heatwave' classification as of the latest update. The IMD's criteria require temperatures to exceed specific benchmarks for consecutive days.
Which states have received storm and heavy rainfall warnings from the IMD?
The IMD has issued stormy rainfall warnings across 13 states. Heavy rainfall warnings specifically cover northeastern states along with Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka in the south, linked to the advancing southwest monsoon.
How much have Delhi temperatures risen in the past ten days?
According to IMD data, the maximum temperature at Safdarjung rose from 37.5 degrees Celsius on 11 May to 45.1 degrees Celsius on 19 May — an increase of more than seven degrees in under ten days.
When is the southwest monsoon expected to advance further?
The IMD has forecast that over the next three to four days, the southwest monsoon will advance further into the southeast Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea, and east-central Bay of Bengal, triggering widespread rainfall in southern and northeastern India.
