Delhi Records Highest Temperature Of This Year, Few Parts Breach 40 Degree Mark
The capital city registered the hottest day of this year, so far, yesterday. As on expected lines, the base station Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 38.9°C, the highest so far and over 7°C above normal. The airport observatory clocked 38°C, over 6°C above the average. Some of the observatories exceeded 40°C for the first time this season. Ridge and Pitampura recorded day highs of 40.1°C and 40.6°C, respectively. It means that some pockets of Delhi observed heat wave conditions, as the mercury exceeded 40°C and was also above normal by over 6°C.
Heat wave conditions are considered for plains when the temperature reaches or exceeds 40°C and the departure from the normal is 4.5°C or more. Normally, for announcing a heat wave, such conditions should prevail for two or more consecutive days. However, in a small area, such as Delhi, the heat wave is considered, even if the criteria are fulfilled for a day or so. Heat stress over Delhi/NCR is expected to reduce over the remaining days of the month, and more so, between 28th and 30th March 2025.
A western disturbance is moving across the northern mountains. It has given scattered rain and snow over Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in the past 24 hours. Weather activity is expected across the hills today as well and will reduce tomorrow. Broad clearance is expected a day later, on 29th March. As the system clears the region, the cool air in the rear section will lead to a drop in temperatures over the plains, including Delhi. Also, the buildup of a pressure gradient will trigger strong surface winds and that will further help reduce the mercury levels.
So, the capital city will miss the mark of 40°C this year in March. In any case, Delhi exceeded this mark only once in the last 15 years. The base observatory at Safdarjung recorded a maximum of 40.1°C on 30th March 2021. The last two years, the maximum temperature in March was restricted to 37.8°C and 34.3°C, in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Yes, the temperature in 2022 was 39.6°C on 31st March. No rains are expected in the remaining days of March 2025.
