A blistering heatwave has gripped large parts of India, with 21 cities across five states recording maximum temperatures of 42°C or higher today. The intense heat is expected to persist for at least three more days, particularly in the national capital, Delhi, where residents will need to brace themselves for continued sweltering conditions.

Apart from Delhi, cities in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Odisha are also facing extreme heat. The unusually high temperatures during the first week of April mark significant deviations from normal, with many locations recording between 3 and nearly 7 degrees Celsius above average.

According to meteorological experts, weakening wind patterns are contributing to the sharp rise in temperature—especially in Delhi. As per the Met department's latest update, surface wind speeds are projected to be moderate in the mornings (8–10 kmph), then drop to 4–6 kmph in the afternoon, blowing from the southeast. Wind activity is expected to remain low during the evening and night as well.

Rajasthan’s Barmer district set a new benchmark for early April heat, registering a scorching 45.6°C on Sunday—the highest ever for this period. This figure stands at 6.8 degrees above the usual temperature for the season.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heatwave conditions likely to affect parts of Gujarat, especially Saurashtra and Kutch, between April 6 and 10. Some regions may experience severe heatwave levels during this time.

Similar warnings have been issued for Rajasthan, with conditions expected to remain harsh in isolated or limited areas. Additionally, heatwave alerts have been extended to parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and western Uttar Pradesh over the coming days.