World Hottest Cities List: On Friday, May 22, the world’s 50 hottest cities were recorded in India, most of which are in just one state. Temperatures reaching 43°C to 44°C even at 6:15 pm have created severe heatwave conditions in North India. Know why North India has become the biggest center of this dangerous heat.
World’s 50 Hottest Cities List: It was 6:15 pm on Friday, May 22, when usually the temperature starts falling, but the situation was completely opposite in the plains of India. A shocking picture emerged in the latest weather report of AQI.in, in which all the 50 hottest cities of the world are from India and the largest share of them is from Uttar Pradesh. Severe heatwave 2026, continuously rising temperatures and dry weather have scorched North, Central and Eastern India. In many cities the temperature was recorded between 43°C to 44°C, due to which the situation remains very serious.
UP becomes the center of global heatwave, more than 30 cities in the list
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the biggest hotspot in this list. Dozens of cities in the state like Moradabad, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Agra, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Jhansi, Etah, Etah, Shahjahanpur, Jaunpur, Aligarh and Mathura are continuously facing heat of 43°C to 44°C. According to experts, the plain terrain of UP and continuous dry air is making it even hotter.
Why did Uttar Pradesh become the center of heatwave?
Meteorologists are citing several major reasons behind the dangerous heat in UP –
1. Geographical location of Indo-Gangetic Plain: Uttar Pradesh is situated in a vast flat area, where the hot winds of Rajasthan and Central India spread rapidly without any obstruction. The absence of mountains or altitude makes this heat more intense.
2. Severe lack of clouds and moisture: Cloudiness and moisture usually start increasing by the end of May, but this year the pressure of dry winds remains. The result is intense sunlight during the day and no respite even at night.
3. Increasing heat of cities (Urban Heat Island Effect): The abundance of concrete and cement in cities like Agra, Varanasi and Prayagraj is further increasing the temperature. These cities absorb heat throughout the day and release it even at night.
4. Decrease in greenery and moisture – In many parts of Bundelkhand and eastern UP, soil moisture is decreasing and greenery is decreasing, due to which the effect of natural coolness has been lost.
IMD Alert: Danger of severe heatwave in many districts, no relief even at night
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts of eastern and central Uttar Pradesh. The warning said that the situation may worsen in the coming days. The most serious thing is that these temperatures were recorded in the evening rather than during the day, when the mercury usually comes down. But this time the situation is opposite in North India. The temperature remains above 43°C even in the evening. The effect of hot winds is clearly visible even at night. Heat wave-like conditions continue. Weather experts believe that this is not just a seasonal phenomenon, but a sign of climate change and continuously increasing heatwave patterns. India’s interior heat belt is expanding rapidly.
When will we get relief from the scorching heat?
At present the hope of relief rests on monsoon. But till then, this double attack of heat in Uttar Pradesh and surrounding states, i.e. heat wave during the day and heat at night, will continue to increase the problems of the people.