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UP Scorched: Banda Hits 48°C Amid Severe Heatwave
21 May
Summary
- Banda district recorded 48°C, the highest in India, for four consecutive days.
- A severe heatwave red alert was issued for Uttar Pradesh, with 20+ districts affected.
- Several Uttar Pradesh cities experienced temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius.
Uttar Pradesh is currently enduring a severe heatwave, with Banda district registering the country's highest temperature at 48 degrees Celsius for four consecutive days as of May 21, 2026. The Lucknow Met office has issued a red alert for a severe heatwave across the state for the next three days, warning of 'warm nights'.
Lucknow recorded a season-high of 43.2 degrees Celsius, with minimum temperatures also significantly above normal. Notably, five Uttar Pradesh cities, including Banda, Hamirpur, and Jhansi, experienced daytime temperatures surpassing 45 degrees Celsius. The Met department predicts these harsh conditions will persist, with over 20 districts under red alert for heatwave to severe heatwave (Loo).
Several districts, including Prayagraj and Varanasi, have reported consistently high temperatures nearing 45 degrees Celsius for the past week. In response, schools up to Class 8 in Prayagraj have been closed since May 19, 2026, and secondary schools have begun their summer vacation. Similarly, schools up to Class 12 in Varanasi have also suspended classes until May 25, 2026. The intensification of heat is attributed to enhanced radiational heating, subsidence of hot winds, and prevailing hot, dry westerly winds across the southern parts of the state.
