India had the largest population globally exposed to prolonged periods of risky heat linked to climate change between June and August 2026, according to a new analysis by Climate Central. An estimated 117 million people in India experienced at least 30 days of risky heat during the three-month period. The analysis classified a risky heat day as one in which temperatures exceeded the 90th percentile of the local temperature range recorded between 1991 and 2020, a threshold associated with increasing health risks from heat. India was, on average, 0.7°C warmer than its 1991 to 2020 baseline during June through August.

Across the country, the average person experienced approximately 39 days of temperatures that were strongly influenced by climate change. The exposure varied substantially across cities. Srinagar recorded the highest number of risky heat days at 53, followed by Chennai with…