A severe heatwave in mid to late April 2022 caused temperatures in eastern, central, and northwestern India to rise above normal by 4.5 to 8.5 degrees Celsius—just weeks after the country recorded its hottest March in history since meteorological records began over 120 years ago.
On April 27, 2022, India recorded its highest temperature of 45.9 degrees Celsius in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The day before, a high of 45.1 degrees Celsius was reported in Barmer, located in western Rajasthan. Many other localities recorded temperatures ranging from 42 to 44 degrees Celsius.
The map above displays modeled air temperatures on April 27, 2022. It was sourced from the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) and represents air temperatures at a height of 2 meters above ground level.
The impacts of the heatwave included heat-related illnesses, poor air quality, low rainfall, and reduced crop yields. Additionally, there was a spike in electricity demand coupled with dwindling coal reserves, leading the country into its worst power shortage in over six years. In northern regions like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, mountain snow was melting rapidly. Furthermore, over 300 large wildfires were reported across the country on April 27, according to the Indian Forest Survey Agency, with nearly one-third of these occurring in Uttarakhand.
Heatwaves are common in India during spring and early summer, particularly in May, which is typically the hottest month. However, they usually subside with the onset of the monsoon season from late May to September each year. According to the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences, the frequency of spring heatwaves has been increasing, with 12 of the 15 hottest years recorded in the country occurring since 2006. A heatwave in June 2015 resulted in over 2,000 fatalities.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the country just experienced its hottest March in the past 122 years. The highest temperature recorded at the Safdarjung meteorological station in New Delhi was 40.8 degrees Celsius on April 26, and it could reach up to 46 degrees Celsius in some areas of Delhi starting April 28, as a new heatwave begins. The IMD issued a yellow alert, the second-highest level on a four-tier scale, for the Indian capital starting April 28. Temperatures in some northern and central states could soar to 48.8 degrees Celsius this week, raising concerns among international observers about the long-term impacts of the heatwave on India and the world. In many localities, the extreme heat has forced schools to close as students cannot withstand the harsh weather. The high temperatures have also devastated crops, with wheat production in several regions of India dropping by up to 50%, raising fears of food shortages.
In 2016, India endured extremely severe heat conditions, with temperatures in many areas consistently exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Notably, on May 19, 2016, the temperature in Phalodi, Rajasthan, was recorded at 51 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in history.
In early June 2019, a severe heatwave scorched northern India. Some areas experienced temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius for three weeks. On June 10, Delhi recorded its hottest day of the month at 48 degrees Celsius. In 2019, sparse rainfall during the pre-monsoon period, coupled with a delayed monsoon, exacerbated the heat. The monsoon weather arrived about a week late in its journey across the southeastern Bay of Bengal.
Extreme weather has also led to a surge in electricity demand. Many regions in India are facing power cuts of up to 8 hours daily, despite authorities advising residents to stay indoors and stay hydrated. India has recently been forced to cancel 650 passenger train journeys until the end of May 2022 to make way for more freight trains, as New Delhi strives to replenish coal reserves at thermal power plants.
India’s neighboring country, Pakistan, is experiencing similar conditions. Data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) shows that the cities of Jacobabad and Sibi in the southeastern province of Sindh recorded maximum temperatures of 47 degrees Celsius on April 29. PMD confirmed this was the highest temperature recorded in any city in the Northern Hemisphere on that day. “This is the first time in decades that Pakistan is experiencing what many are calling a ‘year without spring‘”, described Pakistan’s Minister of Climate Change, Sherry Rehman. Weather conditions in the South Asian region are expected to improve in the coming days, with temperatures in northwestern India dropping by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, while the average temperature in Pakistan is expected to remain around 40 degrees Celsius.
