The heat is having a double effect, with the days and nights becoming hotter; IMD issues a warning

News Topical, Digital Desk : A severe heat wave is currently sweeping across the country, with temperatures in many states reaching above 45 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department has issued a widespread alert regarding this.

But this time, the concern isn't just about the intense daytime heat; nights are also becoming unusually warm. This prevents the body from having time to cool down. The Meteorological Department has warned that hot nights are likely to persist in many parts of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, where minimum temperatures are expected to hover between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Night temperatures continue to remain high in Delhi

Night temperatures in Delhi were above normal during the month of April. They were above both the average for recent years and the long-term average. According to Meteorological Department data, minimum temperatures on most days this month were above the 2020-2025 average and the 1991-2020 normal.

Nights began to warm from mid-April. On April 29th, temperatures reached around 28.5 degrees Celsius, while temperatures remained above normal almost every day between April 18th and 29th.

Increased impact in many parts of the country

This situation isn't limited to Delhi. At least 17 locations across the country recorded night temperatures more than 5 degrees Celsius above normal. Temperatures in Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, Phalodi, Rajasthan, and Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, were 7.7 degrees Celsius above normal, 7.6 degrees Celsius, and 6.1 degrees Celsius above normal. Night temperatures were also significantly higher in areas like Amritsar, Hisar, Rohtak, Chitrakoot, Satna, and Sundargarh.

Why are hot nights dangerous?

According to the Meteorological Department, persistently hot nights put more strain on the body. This increases heat stress, even if daytime temperatures drop slightly. When heat persists at night, the body doesn't have time to cool down, increasing the risk for the elderly, laborers, and those living in homes with poor ventilation.

According to the Meteorological Department's forecast for 2026, minimum temperatures may remain higher than normal in most parts of the country, which means that nights are also likely to remain warm in the coming times.

Read More: Relief from the scorching heat: Strong winds and drizzle have been lashing Delhi-NCR since last night, with rain and storm alerts issued in 13 states.