India Filled All 50 Hottest Cities on April 27 as Banda Hit 115.16°F
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 11
India Filled All 50 Hottest Cities on April 27 as Banda Hit 115.16°F
2 articles · Updated · CNN · May 11
AQI data showed every one of the world’s 50 hottest cities was in India on April 27, with average peak temperatures across those cities reaching 112.5°F.
Banda in Uttar Pradesh topped the list at 115.16°F—the highest temperature recorded anywhere that day—and only cooled to 94.5°F overnight.
Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera said the late-April heat wave ranks among India’s harshest ever for the month, with dozens or even hundreds of April records broken.
The surge fits a broader pattern of earlier, more intense Indian summers driven by climate change, while the weather office warns of above-average heat and below-average monsoon rains in 2026.
Herrera said central and eastern states could face heat-index readings of 122°F to 140°F later this month, raising risks for health, farming, water supplies and power demand.
Is India's extreme urban heat an act of nature, or the direct result of a catastrophic failure in city design?
Amidst a deadly heatwave, can a climate catastrophe be reframed as a unique national achievement for India?
Unprecedented Heat: India’s 2026 Heatwave Crisis and the Challenge of Building National Resilience
Overview
In May 2026, India is facing a severe and widespread heatwave that has triggered a national emergency response. The extreme heat is having an immediate and intense impact on public health and daily life, leading to rapid interventions. Deaths and hospitalizations can occur quickly after exposure, so hospitals across several states are on high alert to manage the surge in heat-related illnesses. Education departments, such as Delhi's, have issued important guidelines for schools, including stopping open-air classes, reducing outdoor assemblies, and ensuring regular water breaks to keep children safe and hydrated during this crisis.