Delhi Records Highest temperature Of Season: Breach Forty Degree Today, Heat Wave In Some Pockets
Representational Image: AI-Skymet
Key Takeaways:
- Delhi/NCR temperatures are rising steadily, with Safdarjung touching 39.1°C and Ridge crossing 40°C.
- Mercury is likely to cross 40°C, with 41°C possible at Safdarjung.
- Heat wave conditions may develop in isolated pockets over the next 2–3 days.
- April heat wave frequency has been erratic, with 2022 being the hottest in recent years.
There has been a steady rise in temperature this week over Delhi/NCR. The base station, Safdarjung, recorded a day maximum of 39.1°C, the highest so far this season. Most other parts of the capital city recorded similar temperatures, but Ridge was an exception, registering a high of 40.7°C. Temperatures are likely to rise further, and the national capital may go past 40°C today.
With the rising trend of mercury, heat wave conditions could develop in some pockets over the next 2–3 days. A heat wave is declared when the day temperature reaches 40°C or more and the departure from normal is 4.5°C or higher. Delhi has a pentad normal of 36°C around this time and will therefore require a maximum temperature of 41°C for heat wave conditions. In another few days, the pentad normal rises to 37°–38°C during the last week of April. The day temperature will then need to reach 42°–43°C to qualify for heat wave conditions during that period.
The frequency of heat waves has been quite erratic for Delhi during the month of April. Last year, the city recorded heat wave conditions early in the month on three days—07th, 08th, and 09th April. The respective maximum temperatures were 40.2°C, 41°C, and 40.5°C. The pentad normal for the city around this time is about 35°C and therefore amounted to heat wave conditions. During the second half of the month, temperatures of about 41°–43°C are needed, and even higher towards the fag end of the month, for the declaration of a heat wave. The record station, Safdarjung, may reach a day high of 41°C today.
As against three heat wave days in April 2025, the capital city skipped heat wave conditions in April 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. April 2022 remains the hottest in recent years, when Safdarjung recorded temperatures in excess of 40°C on 11 days. The last three days of the month recorded sizzling temperatures of 43.5°C. The city holds a record of 11 heat wave days in April 2022. The highest-ever temperature of 45.6°C on 29 April 1941 remains unbeaten for 84 years.
