13 May,2026 02:32 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
IMD issues orange heat alert across Vidharbha region in Maharashtra on Wednesday. File Pic
The Vidarbha region is set to remain under intense heat stress, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert on Wednesday and a yellow warning for heatwave conditions in select districts on Thursday.
Amravati, Akola, and Wardha are likely to experience heatwave conditions along with hot nights, while no significant weather hazards have been flagged for other districts in the region.
On Wednesday, Vidarbha recorded largely dry conditions with no rainfall activity reported. Maximum temperatures remained near normal, while minimum temperatures stayed above normal across several locations.
Akola emerged as the hottest station, recording a maximum temperature of 45.6 degrees Celsius, while Bhandara registered the lowest minimum temperature at 26.0 degrees Celsius.
According to the IMD, an upper air cyclonic circulation persists over Southwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas, extending up to 0.9 km above mean sea level.
A trough extending from this system towards North Chhattisgarh across East Madhya Pradesh is also influencing regional weather patterns, though it is not strong enough to bring significant rainfall to Vidarbha.
Forecasts indicate that Vidarbha will largely remain dry from 14 to 19 May, with only isolated light showers expected on Wednesday over parts of Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli.
West Vidarbha districts, including Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldhana, and Washim, are expected to remain completely dry throughout the period.
Meteorologists say the brief spell of early showers will not significantly impact temperatures, with hot and dry conditions expected to dominate the week.
The India Meteorological Department has further warned that heatwave conditions may persist intermittently across Vidarbha from 13 to 19 May.
13 May: Heatwave likely at isolated places; thunderstorms with gusty winds (40-50 kmph) possible in a few areas
14-19 May: Continued heatwave conditions expected at isolated pockets across the region
Alongside extreme heat, isolated warm night conditions are also likely in parts of Amravati, Akola, and Wardha.
Authorities have urged residents to take precautions against heat exposure, stay hydrated, and avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours as Vidarbha continues to reel under prolonged high-temperature conditions.
