The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for severe heatwave conditions across Delhi-NCR from 19 May to 22 May 2025, warning residents of scorching temperatures, strong hot winds, and rising discomfort over the next three days. The alert comes after Delhi recorded its hottest day of the season on Monday, with the Safdarjung observatory — the city's primary weather station — logging a maximum of 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Day-by-Day Forecast

On 19 May, the maximum temperature is expected to touch 44 degrees Celsius, with the minimum staying around 28 degrees Celsius. Heatwave conditions accompanied by strong surface winds are forecast through the afternoon and evening hours. The IMD has advised residents to avoid outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours, cautioning that prolonged heat exposure poses a direct health risk.

On 20 May, no significant respite is expected. The maximum temperature is again forecast at 44 degrees Celsius, with the minimum likely at 27 degrees Celsius. Strong hot winds are expected to sweep across the region throughout the day, sustaining heatwave conditions into the evening.

By 21 May, a marginal dip is forecast, with the maximum temperature easing slightly to 43 degrees Celsius and the minimum remaining near 27 degrees Celsius. Despite the modest decline, heatwave conditions are expected to persist through the afternoon and evening. On 22 May, similar conditions are anticipated, with a maximum of 43 degrees Celsius and hot, dry winds blowing through the day.

What Is Making It Worse

The IMD has highlighted that the combination of intense solar radiation and strong surface winds during daytime hours is amplifying discomfort beyond what raw temperature figures suggest. Humidity levels are forecast to fluctuate between 35 and 50 per cent, adding a layer of mugginess that compounds heat stress. A steady rise in night-time temperatures is also expected, offering residents little recovery from the daytime heat — a pattern that health authorities flag as particularly dangerous.

This is not an isolated spike. Delhi has seen multiple heatwave episodes in recent years during May, and this stretch follows a broader warming trend across the Indo-Gangetic Plain that the IMD has been tracking since early summer.

Health Advisory

Health experts and doctors have urged children, senior citizens, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions to exercise extra caution. Recommendations include drinking water at regular intervals, staying indoors during afternoon hours, avoiding direct sunlight, and restricting outdoor physical activity to minimise the risk of dehydration and heatstroke. Authorities have not yet announced specific government relief measures, though such advisories typically prompt state agencies to open cooling centres and issue district-level warnings.

When Relief May Come

A gradual improvement in conditions is expected from 23 May, when skies are likely to remain predominantly clear and temperatures may begin to ease. The IMD has not indicated any major weather system — such as a western disturbance or pre-monsoon activity — that could bring significant cooling before that date. Residents are advised to monitor daily IMD bulletins for updated forecasts as the situation evolves.