Delhi sizzles at 39°C. It's still not in top 25 hottest cities today. Full list

Delhi touched 39°C by mid-morning on Monday but still stayed outside India's 25 hottest cities. The rankings point to the harsh heatwave across north and central India.

In Short

• Prayagraj, Banda and Mirzapur jointly topped the chart at 44°C
• Several cities in Rajasthan, Bihar and Haryana were already near 43°C
• Dry continental winds and absent storms accelerated heating across inland regions

Delhi woke up to another scorching summer morning on Monday with temperatures touching 39 degrees Celsius by 10:00 am, but surprisingly, the national capital still failed to make it into the list of India’s 25 hottest cities.

According to temperature rankings published by AQ.in at 10:35 am IST, several cities across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal recorded temperatures significantly higher than Delhi, highlighting the intense heatwave conditions gripping large parts of north and central India.

Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh emerged as the hottest city in the country with temperatures soaring to 44°C, tied with Banda and Mirzapur, which also recorded 44°C under extreme heat conditions.

Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh followed closely at 43°C, along with Varanasi, Jhansi, Sirsa, Sasaram, Etawah, Chhatarpur, Auraiya, Jaunpur and Rewa, all registering temperatures around 43°C by mid-morning.

Several other cities including Azamgarh, Bathinda, Asansol, Buxar, Satna, Durgapur, Faridkot, Fatehabad and Aligarh were already touching 42°C before noon.

Despite Delhi recording a blistering 39°C at 10:35 am, the capital remained outside the top 25 hottest locations, underlining just how intense the heat has become across the Indo-Gangetic plains and adjoining central Indian regions.

Weather experts say dry continental winds, strong solar heating and the absence of widespread thunderstorm activity have allowed temperatures to rise rapidly across inland areas. Many of the hottest cities are located away from coastal influence, where dry air heats up faster during prolonged sunny conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already warned of severe heatwave conditions over parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar over the next few days. Several locations are expected to cross 45°C if cloud cover and storm activity remain absent.

Interestingly, Delhi’s temperature, though extreme for residents, was moderated slightly compared to the worst-hit regions because of changing wind patterns and the possibility of isolated dust storms and thunderstorms later in the evening.

The latest rankings once again show Uttar Pradesh dominating India’s heat map, with more than half of the top 25 hottest cities located in the state alone.

Meteorologists warn that prolonged exposure to such extreme temperatures can increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially during peak afternoon hours. Residents have been advised to remain hydrated, avoid direct sunlight and limit outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.

- Ends