The monsoon has officially arrived in India, bringing rain to Kerala and parts of the South while setting the stage for its northward march. With forecasts for Delhi, Maharashtra and the Northeast now in focus, the 2026 rainy season is officially underway. When will monsoon reach you? 

The monsoon has officially arrived in India, bringing rain to Kerala and parts of the South while setting the stage for its northward march. With forecasts for Delhi, Maharashtra and the Northeast now in focus, the 2026 rainy season is officially underway. When will monsoon reach you?&nbsp;

Monsoon 2026 arrives in India: Kerala soaked, Delhi experiences stormy weather. Is the heatwave over? | In pics

North and central India are in the grips of an intense heatwave with daytime temperatures pushing past the 44°C mark. This extreme heat is not even sparing urban air-conditioned bedrooms at night. Thousands of people are complaining of waking up exhausted, battling morning headaches, fatigue, and brain fog. Heatwaves are interfering with the body's natural sleep mechanisms, causing people to wake up several times at night, which prevents them from entering REM sleep. The body needs to cool down for a good night's sleep. However, experts say that prolonged exposure to extreme daytime heat, combined with unusually warm nights, is affecting this considerably. An extreme cool setting on the AC is making things worse. The effects are being seen most in people suffering from asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic airway diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and dehydration.<h2>What is happening inside homes at night?</h2> Reports suggest that India’s nights are warming nearly five times faster than its days. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, overnight minimum temperatures are significantly above normal. A study by Climate Trends in May 2026 revealed that indoor nighttime temperatures in dense urban homes frequently hover between 31°C and 34°C, and do not go down even in the wee hours of the morning. This creates a "Warm Night" crisis, where our bedrooms act like structural heat traps. Sleeping in such conditions has a major effect on people's health.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/imd-early-monsoon-forecast-india-heatwave-alert-1779357122018">IMD predicts early monsoon arrival as severe heatwave scorches North and Central India</a><h2>Why does heat persist outside even at night?</h2> Earth follows a natural cooling cycle where it absorbs solar energy during the day and then throws the heat back at night. But this is no longer happening effectively. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is to blame for this. Reinforced cement concrete (RCC), asphalt, and glass have filled the Indian cities. Due to their high thermal mass, these materials absorb immense heat all day and slowly radiate it outward for hours after dark. This is known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Your air-conditioner creates a vicious cycle by adding more heat to the environment. It pumps it outdoors, but with millions of more ACs running at the same time, the hot exhaust being released by the compressors increases evening temperatures by an additional 4°C to 6°C. The humidity makes things worse as the moisture in the air disrupts the body's primary cooling mechanism, sweat evaporation.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-heatwave-capital-reports-first-severe-heatstroke-case-this-summer-1779369053875">Delhi Heatwave: Capital reports first severe heatstroke case this summer, youth hospitalised in RML Hospital</a><h2>How is your body suffering from extreme heat at night</h2> Studies have shown that your core body temperature must drop by about 1°C for deep sleep. But with indoor temperatures remaining above 30 degrees Celsius at night, your body struggles to make this happen. Your heart goes into overdrive and starts pumping faster to push blood to your skin to shed heat. This causes the person to wake up several times at night. In the absence of REM sleep, the body does not get the opportunity to recuperate from daytime heat. You wake up tired, complaining of morning headaches, and this can cause long-term cardiovascular strain.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-under-yellow-alert-as-india-dominates-world-s-hottest-cities-list-1779196599869">Delhi sizzles at 45.1°C amid yellow alert; intense heatwave grips north and central India</a><h2>How to cool your room and body without drying the air</h2> Here are some things you can try to make indoor conditions better at night1. Do not open your doors and windows at 6 pm. Do this instead at 9 pm when the outside air temperature has dropped. Open windows on opposite sides of the room to create a functional cross-breeze.2. Fans are simply moving hot air around. Placing a bowl of ice or a damp, cold sheet directly under the fan will lead to evaporative cooling, instantly bringing down the temperature by a few degrees. In air-conditioned rooms, place a bucket of water to add moisture to the air to prevent dehydration.3. While a cold shower might sound like a good idea, it is not. It causes your blood vessels to constrict rapidly, trapping heat inside your core. Take a lukewarm shower before sleeping. It opens your pores and blood vessels, allowing your body to efficiently dump internal heat.4. Consume electrolytes in the evening instead of plain water. ORS, salted buttermilk and coconut water are good options to maintain blood volume and lower your resting heart rate while you sleep.5. Painting the ceiling with reflective cool-roof paint or white lime wash can drop indoor ceiling temperatures by a massive 2 degrees C to 4 degrees C. &nbsp;

An intense heatwave has taken over several Indian cities, and the tools we use to battle it are in turn making things worse. The Warm Night crisis and Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect are together affectig sleep and causing health issues. Here are some ways to withstand the conditions. 

North and central India are in the grips of an intense heatwave with daytime temperatures pushing past the 44°C mark. This extreme heat is not even sparing urban air-conditioned bedrooms at night. Thousands of people are complaining of waking up exhausted, battling morning headaches, fatigue, and brain fog. Heatwaves are interfering with the body's natural sleep mechanisms, causing people to wake up several times at night, which prevents them from entering REM sleep. The body needs to cool down for a good night's sleep. However, experts say that prolonged exposure to extreme daytime heat, combined with unusually warm nights, is affecting this considerably. An extreme cool setting on the AC is making things worse. The effects are being seen most in people suffering from asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic airway diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and dehydration. What is happening inside homes at night? Reports suggest that India’s nights are warming nearly five times faster than its days. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, overnight minimum temperatures are significantly above normal. A study by Climate Trends in May 2026 revealed that indoor nighttime temperatures in dense urban homes frequently hover between 31°C and 34°C, and do not go down even in the wee hours of the morning. This creates a "Warm Night" crisis, where our bedrooms act like structural heat traps. Sleeping in such conditions has a major effect on people's health. Also Read: IMD predicts early monsoon arrival as severe heatwave scorches North and Central India Why does heat persist outside even at night? Earth follows a natural cooling cycle where it absorbs solar energy during the day and then throws the heat back at night. But this is no longer happening effectively. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is to blame for this. Reinforced cement concrete (RCC), asphalt, and glass have filled the Indian cities. Due to their high thermal mass, these materials absorb immense heat all day and slowly radiate it outward for hours after dark. This is known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Your air-conditioner creates a vicious cycle by adding more heat to the environment. It pumps it outdoors, but with millions of more ACs running at the same time, the hot exhaust being released by the compressors increases evening temperatures by an additional 4°C to 6°C. The humidity makes things worse as the moisture in the air disrupts the body's primary cooling mechanism, sweat evaporation. Also Read: Delhi Heatwave: Capital reports first severe heatstroke case this summer, youth hospitalised in RML Hospital How is your body suffering from extreme heat at night Studies have shown that your core body temperature must drop by about 1°C for deep sleep. But with indoor temperatures remaining above 30 degrees Celsius at night, your body struggles to make this happen. Your heart goes into overdrive and starts pumping faster to push blood to your skin to shed heat. This causes the person to wake up several times at night. In the absence of REM sleep, the body does not get the opportunity to recuperate from daytime heat. You wake up tired, complaining of morning headaches, and this can cause long-term cardiovascular strain. Also Read: Delhi sizzles at 45.1°C amid yellow alert; intense heatwave grips north and central India How to cool your room and body without drying the air Here are some things you can try to make indoor conditions better at night 1. Do not open your doors and windows at 6 pm. Do this instead at 9 pm when the outside air temperature has dropped. Open windows on opposite sides of the room to create a functional cross-breeze. 2. Fans are simply moving hot air around. Placing a bowl of ice or a damp, cold sheet directly under the fan will lead to evaporative cooling, instantly bringing down the temperature by a few degrees. In air-conditioned rooms, place a bucket of water to add moisture to the air to prevent dehydration. 3. While a cold shower might sound like a good idea, it is not. It causes your blood vessels to constrict rapidly, trapping heat inside your core. Take a lukewarm shower before sleeping. It opens your pores and blood vessels, allowing your body to efficiently dump internal heat. 4. Consume electrolytes in the evening instead of plain water. ORS, salted buttermilk and coconut water are good options to maintain blood volume and lower your resting heart rate while you sleep. 5. Painting the ceiling with reflective cool-roof paint or white lime wash can drop indoor ceiling temperatures by a massive 2 degrees C to 4 degrees C.

An intense heatwave has taken over several Indian cities, and the tools we use to battle it are in turn making things worse. The Warm Night crisis and Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect are together affectig sleep and causing health issues. Here are some ways to withstand the conditions.&nbsp;

Urban Heat Island effect is making your nights hotter and you sick. Here is how you can mitigate its effects

New Delhi and several parts of north and central India continued to battle extreme heat on Tuesday as the country dominated global temperature rankings in a dramatic fashion. According to AQI.in’s live temperature data at around 2:30 pm, all of the world’s 100 hottest cities were located in India, highlighting the scale and severity of the ongoing heatwave conditions.&nbsp;The National Capital Region also remained under the grip of an intense heatwave on May 19, with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius at all major weather stations in Delhi, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data released at 5:30 pm.The updated rankings showed temperatures rising sharply through the afternoon, with even the cities placed at the bottom of the top 100 list recording a blistering 44 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;The heatwave was not confined to smaller towns, as several major urban centres and prominent cities also featured among the hottest places globally. These included New Delhi, Faridabad, Chandigarh, Jammu, Agra, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Kota and Raipur.&nbsp;A large number of cities remained clustered around the 46 degrees Celsius mark during the afternoon hours. These included Bathinda, Pathankot, Bareilly, Jhansi, Kaithal and Haridwar.<h2>Heatwave grips north and central India</h2>Several cities across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra also recorded temperatures of around 45 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;Eastern India too witnessed severe heat conditions, with Asansol and Durgapur recording 45 degrees Celsius, while Dhanbad stood at 44 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;Despite being near the bottom of the rankings, temperatures in the national capital region remained dangerously high. New Delhi ranked 99th globally at 44 degrees Celsius, while Faridabad occupied the 100th position with the same temperature reading.<h2>IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi</h2>The India Meteorological Department said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue across the plains of northwest and central India through the week. In its special bulletin, the weather department said maximum temperatures are expected to rise gradually by two to three degrees Celsius across many parts of northwest India between Monday and May 24. Chhattisgarh could witness a rise of three to four degrees Celsius till May 21.&nbsp;The IMD also issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning residents to remain cautious amid intense daytime heat. The alert category means “be updated”, while the maximum temperature in the capital is expected to remain around 44 degrees Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning residents to remain cautious as intense heatwave conditions persist in the national capital. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 44 degrees Celsius.

New Delhi and several parts of north and central India continued to battle extreme heat on Tuesday as the country dominated global temperature rankings in a dramatic fashion. According to AQI.in’s live temperature data at around 2:30 pm, all of the world’s 100 hottest cities were located in India, highlighting the scale and severity of the ongoing heatwave conditions. The National Capital Region also remained under the grip of an intense heatwave on May 19, with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius at all major weather stations in Delhi, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data released at 5:30 pm. The updated rankings showed temperatures rising sharply through the afternoon, with even the cities placed at the bottom of the top 100 list recording a blistering 44 degrees Celsius. The heatwave was not confined to smaller towns, as several major urban centres and prominent cities also featured among the hottest places globally. These included New Delhi, Faridabad, Chandigarh, Jammu, Agra, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Kota and Raipur. A large number of cities remained clustered around the 46 degrees Celsius mark during the afternoon hours. These included Bathinda, Pathankot, Bareilly, Jhansi, Kaithal and Haridwar. Heatwave grips north and central India Several cities across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra also recorded temperatures of around 45 degrees Celsius. Eastern India too witnessed severe heat conditions, with Asansol and Durgapur recording 45 degrees Celsius, while Dhanbad stood at 44 degrees Celsius. Despite being near the bottom of the rankings, temperatures in the national capital region remained dangerously high. New Delhi ranked 99th globally at 44 degrees Celsius, while Faridabad occupied the 100th position with the same temperature reading. IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi The India Meteorological Department said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue across the plains of northwest and central India through the week. In its special bulletin, the weather department said maximum temperatures are expected to rise gradually by two to three degrees Celsius across many parts of northwest India between Monday and May 24. Chhattisgarh could witness a rise of three to four degrees Celsius till May 21. The IMD also issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning residents to remain cautious amid intense daytime heat. The alert category means “be updated”, while the maximum temperature in the capital is expected to remain around 44 degrees Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning residents to remain cautious as intense heatwave conditions persist in the national capital. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 44 degrees Celsius.

Delhi sizzles at 45.1°C amid yellow alert; intense heatwave grips north and central India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heatwave conditions likely on Tuesday and Wednesday in Delhi. The weather agency has warned that daytime temperatures could reach 45 degrees Celsius in isolated parts of the national capital. The rise in temperatures across Delhi has already made it uncomfortable for residents, with several weather stations across the national capital recording temperatures above 42°C on Sunday. Weather experts have highlighted that the heat in the city is expected to increase further for the next few days, also affecting large parts of northwest and central India. According to the IMD, Safdarjung, regarded as the main weather station of Delhi, recorded a maximum temperature of 41.9°C on Sunday, almost two degrees above the seasonal average. This reflected a clear rise from Saturday’s maximum of 40.8°C. The heat felt harsher because of high humidity and prevailing atmospheric conditions. The heat index, or the “feels-like” temperature, surged to 44.5°C by 5.30 pm on Sunday. Among the hottest locations in the capital was Ayanagar, where temperatures touched 43°C, while the Ridge station in north Delhi recorded a maximum of 42.8°C. The soaring mercury levels underline the intensifying summer heat across the national capital.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/forest-crisis-in-india-s-northeast-that-its-own-agencies-can-t-explain-wion-exclusive-1779087560154">India's Northeast faces forest crisis that its own agencies can’t explain | WION Exclusive</a><h3>Heatwave across North India</h3>The weather department has predicted that Delhi's maximum temperature is likely to range between 43°C and 45°C from Monday to Wednesday. It also warned that heatwave conditions are likely across several regions of India over the next few days. The latest weather bulletin published by the IMD confirmed that the maximum temperatures may rise by 3–5 degrees Celsius across multiple parts of northwest India until 21 May, with no significant relief. Heatwave conditions are expected to persist in isolated parts of Rajasthan from May 17 to 22, while Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are likely to experience similar weather between May 18 and 23. Other regions expected to be impacted include Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

The heat index, or the “feels-like” temperature across Delhi, rose to 44.5°C by 5.30 pm on Sunday. Among the hottest locations in the capital was Ayanagar, where temperatures touched 43°C, while the Ridge station in north Delhi recorded a maximum of 42.8°C. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heatwave conditions likely on Tuesday and Wednesday in Delhi. The weather agency has warned that daytime temperatures could reach 45 degrees Celsius in isolated parts of the national capital. The rise in temperatures across Delhi has already made it uncomfortable for residents, with several weather stations across the national capital recording temperatures above 42°C on Sunday. Weather experts have highlighted that the heat in the city is expected to increase further for the next few days, also affecting large parts of northwest and central India. According to the IMD, Safdarjung, regarded as the main weather station of Delhi, recorded a maximum temperature of 41.9°C on Sunday, almost two degrees above the seasonal average. This reflected a clear rise from Saturday’s maximum of 40.8°C. The heat felt harsher because of high humidity and prevailing atmospheric conditions. The heat index, or the “feels-like” temperature, surged to 44.5°C by 5.30 pm on Sunday. Among the hottest locations in the capital was Ayanagar, where temperatures touched 43°C, while the Ridge station in north Delhi recorded a maximum of 42.8°C. The soaring mercury levels underline the intensifying summer heat across the national capital. Also read: India's Northeast faces forest crisis that its own agencies can’t explain | WION Exclusive Heatwave across North India The weather department has predicted that Delhi's maximum temperature is likely to range between 43°C and 45°C from Monday to Wednesday. It also warned that heatwave conditions are likely across several regions of India over the next few days. The latest weather bulletin published by the IMD confirmed that the maximum temperatures may rise by 3–5 degrees Celsius across multiple parts of northwest India until 21 May, with no significant relief. Heatwave conditions are expected to persist in isolated parts of Rajasthan from May 17 to 22, while Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are likely to experience similar weather between May 18 and 23. Other regions expected to be impacted include Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

The heat index, or the “feels-like” temperature across Delhi, rose to 44.5°C by 5.30 pm on Sunday. Among the hottest locations in the capital was Ayanagar, where temperatures touched 43°C, while the Ridge station in north Delhi recorded a maximum of 42.8°C.&nbsp;

Delhi heatwave warning: IMD issues 'yellow alert' as temperature may touch 45°C this week

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Monsoon 2026 arrives in India: Kerala soaked, Delhi experiences stormy weather. Is the heatwave over? | In pics

Urban Heat Island effect is making your nights hotter. Here is what to do

Delhi sizzles at 45.1°C; intense heatwave grips north and central India

Delhi heatwave warning: IMD issues 'yellow alert' as temperature may touch 45°C