Delhi records hottest day of year as mercury hits 31.6°C

Terrible change in weather for the national Capital, which was supposed to experience winter conditions in mid-February! It has been only 15 days into February, but it feels like summer is already here.

The national Capital witnessed a significantly hot day on Monday, recording the hottest day of the year so far, with maximum temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms, while minimum temperatures remained near or below average.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said there is going to be no significant drop in temperatures over the next few days, indicating that we may well be in spring and transitioning into summer. It said temperatures are likely to stay above normal with generally dry, warm conditions through this period, with only a minor chance of light rain or cloudiness rather than major weather changes.

According to the IMD, the Safdarjung observatory, the city’s base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 31.6 degrees Celsius, which is 7.2 degrees above normal. The station also noted a sharp 24-hour temperature change of 3.1 degrees, indicating a sudden warm spell affecting the region.

Similarly, Ayanagar recorded a high of 30.4 degrees Celsius, marking a 7.1 degrees Celsius increase from the seasonal average. Other stations, including Lodi Road, recorded 29.2 degrees Celsius, which is 5.2 degrees higher, and Ridge recorded 28.4 degrees Celsius, which is 5.3 degrees Celsius higher, also reported above-normal daytime temperatures, the IMD said.

According to IMD, the city saw the minimum temperature remain near or below average. While Palam and Ridge recorded minimums slightly above normal at 11.6 degrees Celsius and 11.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, most other stations saw cooler-than-usual nights.

Ayanagar recorded a low of just 9.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees below normal, and Safdarjung and Lodi Road logged minimums of 10.1 degrees Celsius and 10.4 degrees Celsius, both marginally below the seasonal average.

In recent years, February 2024 was noted as the coldest February in over a decade for Delhi in terms of average minimum temperatures, with the monthly average falling to about 9.3 degrees Celsius, which was lower than any February since at least 2012.

Skymet weather Vice-President Mahesh Palawat noted that Delhi being this hot in mid-February is an unusual phenomenon, as skies are clear due to low wind speed, which leads to bright sunny afternoons and an approaching western disturbance.