After a short rain-induced cooldown, Delhi is once again on a warming trajectory, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting temperatures to touch the 40°C mark by April 15.
The city recorded a sunny Saturday with a maximum temperature of 34.7°C, about 1.4 degrees below normal, but part of a clear upward trend. Earlier in the week, Delhi had seen an unusually low maximum of 28.2°C on April 8—the lowest for the month in a decade—before temperatures climbed to 30.8°C on Thursday and 32.8°C on Friday.
Steady rise expected
IMD has projected a gradual increase of 6–7°C in maximum temperatures over the next week. The mercury is likely to reach around 40°C by Wednesday and may rise further to 41°C by Friday. Daytime temperatures, currently below normal, are expected to turn normal within a couple of days and then move into above-normal territory.
Night temperatures are also set to rise. The minimum, recorded at 18.6°C on Saturday, is expected to increase by 1–2°C daily, reaching 23–25°C by midweek.
What’s driving the heat
According to experts, the absence of active weather systems is the key reason behind the rising temperatures. Clear skies, dry winds and uninterrupted sunshine are allowing heat to build up steadily.
Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather noted that with the fading influence of cooler northwesterly winds, daytime heating will intensify. He added that heatwave-like conditions could emerge if temperatures cross 40°C and remain significantly above normal.
Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya also indicated that large parts of north and central India could soon see temperatures in the 42–45°C range, with Delhi likely to record its first 40°C day of the season within the next few days.
Air quality and conditions
Air quality showed slight improvement on Saturday, with the 24-hour average AQI at 123 (“moderate”), according to the Central Pollution Control Board. This was down from 151 the previous day, though forecasts suggest AQI may range between “moderate” and “poor” in the coming days.
IMD has predicted clear skies and gusty winds on Sunday, with speeds of 15–25 kmph, occasionally reaching 35 kmph during the day.
Heat building up
Delhi has so far recorded a peak of 36.8°C this year, lower than last April when temperatures crossed 40°C in the first week itself. But with a sharp rise now underway and little chance of rain-bearing systems, the Capital is likely to see summer intensify quickly over the next few days.
Comments are closed.