IMD warns Delhi may hit 45°C

The India Meteorological Department warned on May 17 that parts of Delhi would face heatwave conditions from May 18 to May 23, with maximum temperatures forecast at 43 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius. The department also said strong surface winds were likely during the day, with speeds of 20 kph to 30 kph and gusts up to 40 kph. Delhi-NCR forecast pages published by the agency on May 18 showed citywide forecasts for the week and live station observations across the capital. The warning places Delhi inside a broader belt of extreme heat across northwest and central India. The IMD said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions were likely over the plains of those regions during many days of the week, and media reports citing the department said the capital was among the areas expected to see the sharpest daytime heat. (indianexpress.com) ### How hot did the IMD say Delhi could get? The IMD said Delhi's maximum temperature was likely to be in the range of 43 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures were expected at 25 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius. The agency said maximum temperatures in the capital would remain above normal by 3 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius at most places. (mausam.imd.gov.in) The Delhi-NCR forecast page on May 18 also showed wide variation across local stations during the day. Ayanagar was listed at 41.0 degrees Celsius, while Safdarjung was shown at 27.0 degrees Celsius in an early observation snapshot, underscoring how local readings can differ by time and station even before the day's peak heat. (indianexpress.com) ### Which days are covered by the warning? The IMD warning cited by Indian Express said heatwave conditions were likely over parts of Delhi during May 18-23. The districtwise and subdivisionwise warning pages on the IMD website also displayed warning windows and daily forecast tabs for May 18 through May 22, indicating the agency was updating the risk day by day rather than issuing a single static advisory. (mausam.imd.gov.in) May 18 was the first day of the Delhi alert period. Reports published late on May 17 and early on May 18 described the coming week as the main window for the capital's hottest conditions. ### What did the IMD say about winds and outdoor conditions? (indianexpress.com) The IMD said sustained strong surface winds of 20 kph to 30 kph were likely, with occasional gusts reaching 40 kph during the day on Monday. The agency said the predominant surface wind would begin from the northwest in the morning, then shift westerly in the afternoon and evening. (indianexpress.com) Those wind details matter because Delhi's hottest pre-monsoon spells are often accompanied by hot, dry surface winds. The IMD did not describe rain relief in the Delhi warning cited by Indian Express, and the report said weather over the capital was expected to stay dry. (indianexpress.com) ### Was Delhi the only place under heat stress? Northwest and central India were also flagged by the IMD for heatwave to severe heatwave conditions during the week. Indian Express, citing the department, said parts of Rajasthan were expected to face heatwave conditions from May 17-23, with Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh from May 18-23, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha from May 17-21, and Chhattisgarh on May 20-21. (indianexpress.com) In Uttar Pradesh, Banda touched 46.4 degrees Celsius on May 17, according to the same report, making it the hottest place in the country that day. Several other cities in the state were reported above 43 degrees Celsius. (mausam.imd.gov.in) ### Where will the next official updates appear? The IMD's Delhi-NCR forecast portal lists daily city forecasts, district warnings and station observations for New Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad. The agency's warning pages on May 18 showed forecast tabs through May 22, and the Delhi heatwave alert cited by Indian Express runs through May 23. (indianexpress.com) (mausam.imd.gov.in)