India’s weather agency warned Wednesday of upcoming extreme heat made worse by the potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern, issuing heatwave preparedness guidelines as temperatures soared across the country.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a high of 48.2C in Uttar Pradesh, with the capital, New Delhi, reaching 44.4C.

What is El Nino and why does it make India’s heatwaves worse?

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide shifts in winds, air pressure and rainfall patterns.

Research cited by the IMD links past El Nino events to higher heatwave frequency, increased temperature anomalies and longer, more spatially widespread heat events across northwest and central India.

The last El Nino helped make 2023 and 2024 the two hottest years on record.

How severe is the current heatwave in India?

The IMD warned Wednesday of “heat wave to severe heat wave conditions” across northwest and central India, urging the public to stay hydrated and keep cool.

The agency shared guidance posters on social media detailing the health risks. India routinely experiences intense heatwaves between April and June, but this year’s conditions are drawing particular concern.

The highest maximum temperature recorded Tuesday was 48.2C in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, roughly 450 kilometers southeast of New Delhi.

The country’s highest officially recorded temperature remains 51C, measured at Phalodi in Rajasthan in 2016. Scientists say climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and severe.

Is El Nino confirmed as the cause of India’s current heat?

The IMD did not directly link current high temperatures to El Nino. The United Nations’ weather and climate agency warned last month that El Nino conditions could develop as soon as May to July.

The IMD did, however, highlight past research showing how El Nino patterns had influenced extreme temperature events across India and intensified heatwave conditions.

How does India’s heat compare globally?

Last month, international air-quality monitoring platform AQI reported that every one of the world’s 50 hottest cities, based on its daily heat index, was in India.

The index factors in temperature, solar intensity, wind, precipitation and humidity. Across all 50 cities, the average peak temperature on April 27 was 44.7C, with the coolest city on the list, Solapur, still reaching 41.9C.