India’s meteorological agency issues heatwave warnings as officials say extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that heatwaves are growing longer, more intense, and more frequent, with severe conditions affecting parts of northwest and central India. The agency also links the heightened risk to the possibility of El Niño, a climate pattern that can influence weather across multiple regions, including by contributing to hotter conditions. In response to forecasts of “extreme” heat, the IMD releases preparedness guidance for managing heatwave impacts. The warnings come as temperatures rise across affected areas, prompting the agency to advise people and authorities to take steps to reduce heat exposure and prepare for worsening conditions. While the warnings focus on the immediate risk of dangerous temperatures, the IMD frames them in the context of the broader likelihood of El Niño developing, which could intensify heat-related impacts in the coming period.