After a brief spell of rain offered some relief, Delhi is once again heading toward a sharp rise in temperatures.
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting the mercury to touch 40°C by midweek. The Capital recorded a sunny Saturday with a maximum temperature of 34.7°C—still slightly below normal, but part of a steady upward trend. Just days earlier, on April 8, the city had logged an unusually low maximum of 28.2°C. Since then, temperatures have climbed consistently, reaching 30.8°C on Thursday and 32.8°C on Friday.
Mercury set to spike
According to IMD, this gradual increase is expected to continue, with maximum temperatures likely to rise by 6–7°C over the next week. The 40°C mark could be reached by Wednesday, with a further rise to around 41°C possible by Friday. Daytime temperatures are also expected to shift from below normal to above normal levels in the coming days.
Minimum temperatures, which stood at 18.6°C on Saturday, are also forecast to rise steadily—likely reaching 23–25°C by Thursday.
Why temperatures are rising
Weather experts attribute the spike to a lack of active weather systems. With no rainfall or cloud cover expected, clear skies and prolonged sunshine are driving the increase.
Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather said dry winds will dominate as the cooling northwesterlies weaken, allowing temperatures to climb rapidly. He added that heatwave-like conditions could develop if temperatures cross 40°C and remain significantly above normal.
Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya also indicated that several parts of north and central India could see temperatures ranging between 42°C and 45°C in the coming days, with Delhi likely to record its first 40°C reading of the season soon.
Air quality and outlook
Despite the rising heat, air quality showed slight improvement. The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), as per the Central Pollution Control Board, stood at 123 (“moderate”), down from 151 a day earlier.
However, forecasts suggest AQI levels could fluctuate between “moderate” and “poor” over the next week.
What lies ahead
The IMD has predicted clear skies and gusty daytime winds for Sunday, with speeds reaching up to 35 kmph. While western disturbances could bring temporary relief, experts believe such changes are unlikely in the near term.
With temperatures rising quickly and heatwave conditions looming, Delhi appears set to transition rapidly from a brief cool spell to peak summer intensity.
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