Delhi hits 39.2C, records highest July temperature since 2024
Delhi recorded its hottest July day in nearly two years on Thursday, with the maximum temperature touching 39.2 degrees Celsius, amid hot and humid conditions and elusive rainfall.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather station, settled at 39.2 degrees Celsius, 4.0 notches above normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 30.2 degrees Celsius, 3.2 notches above normal.
The maximum temperature was the highest recorded in July since July 30, 2024, when it had reached 39.3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was also the highest since July 2, 2024, when it had settled at 30.7 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature at Palam stood at 39.0 degrees Celsius, 3.8 notches above normal. Lodhi Road recorded 38.9 degrees Celsius, 4.9 notches above normal, Ridge registered 38.0 degrees Celsius, 3.2 notches above normal, and Ayanagar logged 38.7 degrees Celsius, 3.4 notches above normal. The minimum temperature at Palam settled at 27.6 degrees Celsius, 2.4 notches above normal. Lodhi Road recorded 29.2 degrees Celsius, 4.3 notches above normal, Ridge registered 27.2 degrees Celsius, 2.8 notches above normal, and Ayanagar logged 29.4 degrees Celsius, 2.1 notches above normal.According to weather experts, humid southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea are leading to cloud formation over Delhi, but the moisture content in these winds is getting depleted over Gujarat, preventing sufficient moisture from reaching the national capital.
Clouds are forming without producing rainfall as there is no triggering weather system to initiate precipitation, Mahesh Palawat, vice president (Meteorology and Climate Change), Skymet Weather, said.
He said similar conditions are likely to persist over the next three days, with the maximum temperature expected to hover between 39 and 40 degrees Celsius.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast isolated to scattered rainfall over Delhi between July 16 and July 19, and fairly widespread to widespread rainfall from July 20 to July 22. Hot and humid weather conditions are likely to prevail over Delhi and adjoining areas between July 16 and July 18, it said.
The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 176 at 4 pm on Thursday, placing it in the “moderate” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
