IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi, forecasts heatwave and temperatures up to 46°C over next three days

New Delhi is staring at another punishing stretch of summer after a brief spell of cloudy skies and relatively cooler weather offered residents temporary relief earlier this week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the national capital, warning that temperatures may climb as high as 46 degrees Celsius over the next three days.

The warning comes at a time when large parts of north and central India are already reeling under intense heatwave conditions. According to the IMD, Delhi is expected to witness rising daytime and night-time temperatures until May 27, with broader heatwave alerts also in place for neighbouring states, including Punjab and Haryana.

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The weather department said maximum temperatures in Delhi could rise by another 1 to 2 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours before remaining persistently high. Night temperatures are also likely to increase by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius initially, adding to discomfort levels in the city.

While the current heat spell is expected to continue for the next few days, the IMD has indicated some relief towards the end of the week. Temperatures may dip by around 6 to 8 degrees Celsius after May 27, with light rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds likely between May 28 and May 30.

Humidity levels stood at 37 per cent on Sunday morning, making conditions more uncomfortable despite occasional cloud cover. The IMD has also predicted the possibility of light rain in isolated parts of Delhi by Sunday evening.

Heatwave alert extended across several states

Apart from Delhi, severe heatwave conditions have prompted red alerts in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Orange alerts have also been issued for Telangana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

The IMD said severe heatwave conditions may persist in isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi between May 25 and May 27, while warnings are likely to remain in place till May 28 in some regions.

Delhi air quality remains in poor category

Even as temperatures continue to soar, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category on Sunday.

Among the major monitoring stations, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 293, followed by Narela at 246 and Sonia Vihar at 231. Other areas, including Ashok Vihar, IIT Delhi and RK Puram, also reported air quality levels falling within the poor range.

According to IMD advisories, residents have been urged to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours and stay hydrated to prevent heat-related illnesses.