India has recorded its earliest heatwave and warm nights in 2025, marking a concerning trend in rising temperatures. On February 25, 2025, Goa and Maharashtra experienced the first heatwave of the year making it the first time a heatwave has been recorded during winter (January–February) according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD also confirmed that February 2025 was the hottest February in 125 years.
The impact of extreme temperatures has been felt in Odisha and Jharkhand which recorded their earliest heatwaves in four years. On March 15 Odisha’s Boudh registered the highest temperature in India, reaching 43.6°C on March 16. Jharsuguda followed with 42°C, while Bolangir recorded 41.7°C. These extreme heat conditions arrived much earlier than in previous years indicating an alarming shift in climate patterns.
Night temperatures have also been rising at an unusual rate. Between February 11 and 23, 2025 at least 31 states and union territories recorded night temperatures 1°C above normal at least once. Of these 22 states and UTs reported night temperatures 3°C to 5°C above normal, while 10 states, including Gujarat, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Tripura, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka, recorded night temperatures more than 5.1°C above normal. On March 15, Odisha and Jharkhand recorded their first warm nights of the year, much earlier than in 2024 when Gujarat and Maharashtra saw similar conditions on March 27.
Scientists warn that prolonged exposure to high temperatures both during the day and night can have severe health consequences. Research published in the Lancet highlights how warmer nights disrupt sleep patterns and exacerbate heat stress. Additionally, rising night temperatures pose a serious threat to agriculture. A 1°C increase in night temperatures can reduce wheat yields by 6% and rice yields by up to 10%, affecting food production and nutritional quality.
The advancing timeline of heatwaves and warm nights underscores the growing threat of climate change. Findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggest that extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense. Data from Down to Earth’s extreme weather analysis shows a consistent trend of worsening heat stress, signaling serious risks for public health, agriculture, and climate resilience.