PM Modi urges heatwave precautions as Delhi braces for 45°C peak
Synopsis
With Delhi staring down a 45°C day and much of India under a heatwave, PM Modi took to X to urge citizens to stay hydrated and offer water to others. The appeal is a rare personal outreach on a weather crisis — and pre-monsoon storms arriving around 29 May may be the only near-term relief in sight.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi on 27 May urged citizens to take heatwave precautions and offer water to others, posting directly on X .
Delhi-NCR faces a maximum temperature of 45°C on 27 May , with a formal heatwave warning issued by the Meteorological Department .
A significant weather shift is expected from 29 May , with temperatures dropping to around 36°C and thunderstorms bringing pre-monsoon rain.
Wind speeds of 50–60 km/h are forecast on 28 May , easing to 40–50 km/h on 29 May .
Near-normal conditions are expected to return by 1 June , with a forecast maximum of 37°C and partly cloudy skies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 27 May called on citizens across India to take all possible precautions against the ongoing heatwave, urging people to stay hydrated and extend small acts of kindness — including offering a glass of water to others — as several parts of the country reel under soaring temperatures.
What PM Modi Said
Posting on social media platform X, Modi wrote: 'Different parts of India are witnessing soaring temperatures and the challenges that come with it. This heat is harsh on all of us and I urge you all to take as many precautions as possible. Please stay hydrated, keep water with you when stepping out. Offer a glass of water to others. In weather like this, such kindness goes a long way.'
The appeal reflects growing concern at the highest levels of government about the human toll of an unusually prolonged heat season. This comes amid a broader pattern of intensifying summer extremes across the Indian subcontinent in recent years.
Delhi-NCR Heatwave Alert
Residents of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) are bracing for severe heatwave conditions over the next two days. The Meteorological Department has forecast a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius on 27 May, with the minimum likely to hover around 28 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are expected to range between 25% and 40%.
The department has issued an explicit heatwave warning, additionally flagging strong and hot surface winds during afternoon and evening hours. Residents have been advised to avoid stepping outdoors during peak afternoon hours, drink plenty of water, and protect themselves from direct sun exposure.
When Relief Is Expected
A gradual shift in weather is anticipated from 28 May onwards. The maximum temperature is forecast to ease to around 43 degrees Celsius on that day, accompanied by thunderstorms and light to very light rainfall in the afternoon and evening, with strong winds and squalls at 50–60 km/h.
A sharper drop is expected on 29 May, when the maximum temperature may fall to approximately 36 degrees Celsius and the minimum to 26 degrees Celsius. Thunderstorms with rain, lightning, and squalls are forecast, with wind speeds of 40–50 km/h. Weather experts have classified this incoming rainfall as pre-monsoon activity driven by storm systems across North, Central, and East India.
Forecast Through Early June
Thunderstorm and rain conditions are expected to persist on 30 and 31 May, with maximum temperatures hovering around 35–36 degrees Celsius and minimums between 25–26 degrees Celsius. No specific weather warnings have been issued for those two days, though overcast skies and light rainfall remain likely.
By 1 June, conditions are forecast to return to near-normal, with a maximum of 37 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy skies, and no active weather warning. The pre-monsoon rain around 29 May is expected to bring significant relief from the prolonged heat.
Point of View
Meaning the human cost of events like this is tallied weeks later, if at all. The Meteorological Department's granular daily forecasts are a genuine improvement, but last-mile communication to daily-wage workers and the urban homeless — those most exposed — remains the weakest link. A glass of water is a start; a heat action plan with teeth would be the next step.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say about the heatwave on 27 May?
PM Modi posted on X urging all Indians to stay hydrated, carry water when stepping out, and offer a glass of water to others, calling such kindness essential in extreme heat. He acknowledged that the heat is harsh on everyone and asked citizens to take as many precautions as possible.
How hot will Delhi-NCR get on 27 May 2025?
The Meteorological Department has forecast a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius for Delhi-NCR on 27 May, with the minimum around 28 degrees Celsius. A formal heatwave warning is in effect, along with an advisory to avoid going outdoors during peak afternoon hours.
When will the heatwave in Delhi ease?
A meaningful drop in temperature is expected from 29 May, when the maximum may fall to around 36 degrees Celsius due to pre-monsoon thunderstorms and rain. Near-normal conditions are forecast to return by 1 June.
What is pre-monsoon rain and why does it matter now?
Pre-monsoon rain refers to rainfall driven by storm systems that typically develop over North, Central, and East India in late May, ahead of the official monsoon onset. The rain expected around 29 May falls into this category and is forecast to bring significant relief from the ongoing heatwave in Delhi-NCR.
What precautions has the government advised during the heatwave?
The Meteorological Department has advised residents to avoid stepping outdoors during peak afternoon hours, drink plenty of water, and protect themselves from direct sun exposure. Strong and hot surface winds are also expected during afternoon and evening hours on 27 May.
