Hotter days ahead: IMD
New Delhi: This year we may have quite a severe summer in the country. At several places, the heat has already arrived with greater intensity and ferocity than in previous years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert for several districts in Maharashtra this week, and Akola in the Vidarbha region-recording a temperature of nearly 44°C—has joined the ranks of the world's hottest cities. Meanwhile, Amravati, Wardha, and Nagpur have also secured spots in the top 10 list.
In many parts of the country, temperatures have already crossed the 40–44°C mark. The IMD has warned that heatwave conditions are expected to intensify further in the coming days.
Temperatures May Reach 50°C
According to the IMD, the summer of 2026 is expected to be hotter than usual; heatwave conditions are likely to escalate between March and May, potentially driving temperatures up by 4–8°C. As the summer heat reaches its peak, there is a possibility that the mercury could touch 50°C in certain regions.
20 hottest cities
In terms of city temperatures across the globe, Jinghong in China's Yunnan province emerged as the hottest city, recording a temperature of 37°C. This was followed by Balangir in Odisha, India, where a temperature of 36°C was recorded. Other cities where temperature soared to 36 degree C include Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Gadchandur (Maharashtra), Mahasamund (Chhattisgarh), Sasaram (Bihar), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Kothapet (Telangana), Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Durg (Chhattisgarh), and Mughalsarai (Uttar Pradesh).
Additionally, temperatures of 35°C were recorded in Lachhanpur (Chhattisgarh), Mirzapur (UP), Jagtial (Telangana), Wat Phra Phutthabat (Thailand), Varanasi (UP), Adilabad (Telangana), Masanganj (Chhattisgarh), Morshi (Maharashtra), Karimnagar (Telangana), and Bhainsa (Telangana).
