Heatwaves

Why rising night-time temperatures pose a growing risk to cities

Relentless night-time heat puts billions at risk in growing megacities

Heatwaves, urbanisation drive record power demand, reshape energy planning

A record peak demand of 271 GW in May underscores the growing impact of heatwaves, urbanisation and electrification, while raising fresh questions about grid resilience and energy planning

Beyond forecasting: Can AI help Indian cities fight heatwave better?

AI is moving beyond heatwave forecasts into urban planning, healthcare and power management, but experts warn gaps in data, governance and access still remain

Stay hydrated, take extra care during scorching heat: PM on 'Mann Ki Baat'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to stay hydrated in view of soaring temperatures across the country. In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, he said people should take extra precautions when stepping out in the sun. "With temperatures soaring across much of the country, it is important to take extra care. Stay hydrated. If you need to step out in the sun, do so cautiously and take necessary precautions," he said. "Keep drinking water. Don't forget the guidelines issued by various government departments in this regard either," he said. Prime Minister Modi had on Wednesday last also urged citizens to take maximum precautions as the country is witnessing soaring temperatures, and said staying hydrated is key during such harsh weather. Modi also referred to the king of fruits, saying there is hardly a home where mangoes are not talked about in the summer season. He noted that every region has its own mango and its own aroma. "Hapus or alphonso of Maharashtra

Heatwave eases as rain cools North India, IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi

Rain, thunderstorms and hail are forecast across several states on Sunday, bringing respite from the intense summer heat

From heatwave alerts to action: Why India needs cooling governance now

India has expanded heat action plans and cooling pilots, but weak funding, uneven building-code enforcement and poor city data keep many responses in advisory mode

PM Modi has stressed whole-of-nation approach to tackle heatwave: Vaishnaw

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged all Union cabinet ministers to ensure that their respective ministries and departments take necessary steps to mitigate the impact of the prevailing heatwave conditions across the country. Addressing a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashvini Vaishnaw said the prime minister stressed the need for a "whole-of-nation" approach to deal with the extreme heat situation. Vaishnaw said the prime minister directed all ministries to take appropriate action to protect people from the heatwave, particularly departments such as health and water resources. "The prime minister said all ministries must take steps to protect people from the heatwave, especially ministries such as health and water resources, and consider what measures can be taken. He was clear that such major challenges should be addressed through a whole-of-nation approach, with the Centre, states and citizens working together," the minister said. Asked about

Urban heat islands: Why Indian cities are becoming unliveable after dark

Indian cities are warming faster at night, turning homes into heat traps and exposing gaps in housing, planning and cooling access as AC demand rises

How extreme heat is exposing gaps in India's crop insurance system

As extreme heat damages yields, quality and farm incomes without triggering formal crop failure, experts say India's insurance system is struggling to adapt to climate reality

Wet-bulb heat explained: Why humidity makes extreme summer heat deadlier

Wet-bulb heat reflects how difficult it becomes for the body to cool itself during humid weather, making prolonged summer exposure increasingly risky

Heatwave glossary: Urban heat island, wet-bulb, heat index, and more

From wet-bulb temperature to heat dome, here are some key heatwave terms everyone should understand during extreme summers

IMD warns of rising heatwave conditions as mercury in Delhi to touch 46°C

IMD has warned of rising temperatures and persistent heatwave conditions across north and central India, while several eastern and southern states are likely to receive rainfall and thunderstorms

Exceptionally early heat wave shatters records, causes deaths across Europe

The United Kingdom smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours on Tuesday as a spring heat wave scorches parts of Western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down. A temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius (95.2 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded at London's Kew Gardens, Britain's Met Office weather service said, breaking the 34.8 C (94.6 F) record set a day earlier at Kew. The provisional readings smashed the long-standing record of 32.8 C (91.4 F) set in 1922 and matched in 1944. London also recorded a rare "tropical night", defined as one in which the temperature does not fall below 20 C (68 F). Records also fell in France, where temperatures reached 36 C (97 F) on Monday in the country's southwest and widely remained above 20 C at night. The national weather service, Meteo-France, said a "heat dome", with heat held in place by a high-pressure weather fron

Heat and mental health: Can rising temperatures trigger stress, aggression?

From sleep disruption to rising irritability, doctors say heat stress may quietly affect emotional health and worsen existing mental health conditions

How extreme summers are starting to weigh on India's economic growth

Longer and more intense heatwaves are affecting jobs, farm output, electricity demand and health costs, raising concerns that India may be underestimating their economic impact

India's scorching nights strain power grid, raise health concerns

Higher heat means increased power consumption, and India has seen demand driven to repeated records, not only during the day but at night, resulting in occasional shortfalls

Heat stress widens factory divide as MSMEs face rising summer costs

Extreme heat is pushing up electricity bills, cooling costs and compliance expenses while reducing worker productivity, hitting factories and MSMEs with a rising but hidden cost burden

India's extreme heat spell giving parametric insurance a longer season

Extreme heat and erratic weather fuel sharp rise in demand for parametric insurance covers

IMD warns of severe heatwave across North India, temperatures set to rise

The IMD has warned of possible severe heatwave conditions across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi

Delhi sizzles at 44.6°C as IMD warns of a prolonged heatwave spell

Dry scorching winds and relentless heat turned Delhi into a furnace on Monday as the maximum temperatures breached the 44 degrees Celsius mark in parts of the national capital, with the city staring at an extended spell of punishing heat in the upcoming week. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi's base station at Safdarjung logged a maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius, 3 degrees above normal, while the minimum settled at 26.3 degrees Celsius. Though no heatwave conditions were officially recorded in the city, Delhi witnessed its hottest May day since 2024 on Monday. The last time the national capital recorded a higher temperature in May was on May 17 in 2024, when the mercury stood at 43.6 degrees Celsius. Among the other stations, Ridge was the hottest at 44.6 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees above normal, followed by Ayanagar at 44.4 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees above normal, Lodhi Road at 43.8 degrees Celsius, 4.8 notches above normal, and Palam at 43