The Indian Meteorological forecast maximum temperatures Thursday of around 45C

Shonal Ganguly & Sheikh Saaliq
Thursday 21 May 2026 12:38 BST

Roads and markets have emptied during afternoons and some farmers have switched to nighttime work to avoid scorching temperatures as a heatwave grips large parts of India.

The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum temperatures Thursday of around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in the capital, Delhi, where authorities have opened temporary “cooling zones” to help people cope.

The weather department warned conditions will likely persist across several northern regions in the coming days, with temperatures staying well above seasonal averages. Authorities urged people to stay indoors during the hottest hours and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

India declares a heat wave whenever temperatures are above 40C (104F) in the plains and 30C (86F) or more in its hilly regions.

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