Delhi records warmest morning in 2 years as monsoon delay leaves city sweltering
Delhi's minimum temperature touched 31.1 degrees Celsius, the highest in two years, as delayed monsoon winds kept the capital unusually hot and humid with heatwave conditions.
Delhi witnessed its hottest morning in two years on Sunday as the delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon continued to keep temperatures and humidity levels elevated, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The minimum temperature in the capital settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius, which was 3.2 degrees above the seasonal average. The maximum temperature touched 41.8 degrees Celsius, 4.6 degrees higher than normal at Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station.
The IMD said heatwave conditions prevailed over the city. The weather office also recorded a temperature of around 50.7 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm.
Delhi last recorded a higher minimum temperature on June 14, 2024, when the mercury had settled at 33.3 degrees Celsius.
Several weather stations across the city reported temperatures above the normal range. The maximum temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius at Palam, 42.1 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 42.6 degrees Celsius at Ridge and 41.8 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar.
Minimum temperatures also remained above normal across all five IMD observatories.
Apart from Safdarjung's 31.1 degrees Celsius, Palam recorded 30 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 30.2 degrees Celsius, Ridge 28.7 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar 29 degrees Celsius. The departure from the seasonal average ranged between 1.4 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar and 3.2 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung and Lodhi Road.
Weather forecasting agency Skymet attributed the unusual heat and humidity to the delayed monsoon onset and the clash between dry and moist winds over the region.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President, Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet, said Delhi usually receives the monsoon around June 27-28, after which temperatures begin to drop while humidity rises.
"Normally, the monsoon reaches Delhi around June 27-28, after which temperatures begin to ease and humidity increases. This year, however, the monsoon is likely to be delayed by about a week. Dry westerly winds from Pakistan are keeping temperatures high, while southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea are also reaching Delhi and increasing humidity," he said.
Furthermore, Palawat explained that clouds generally develop around late afternoon, by which time the day's peak temperature has already been recorded. This has resulted in both high maximum temperatures and unusually high "feel-like" temperatures.
According to him, the monsoon is likely to advance into east Uttar Pradesh by June 30 or July 1, reach Uttarakhand around July 2-3, and enter Delhi around July 4 if weather conditions remain favourable. He added that a small cyclonic circulation could develop in the coming days, potentially triggering isolated spells of rain.
Relative humidity in Delhi was recorded at 44 per cent at 5.30 pm. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms with rain on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to remain around 41 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 162, according to the Sameer app. The Central Pollution Control Board categorises AQI levels between 101 and 200 as moderate.
With the monsoon still delayed, Delhi continued to experience a combination of heatwave conditions, high temperatures and humidity, though rainfall activity is expected on Monday.
Delhi witnessed its hottest morning in two years on Sunday as the delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon continued to keep temperatures and humidity levels elevated, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The minimum temperature in the capital settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius, which was 3.2 degrees above the seasonal average. The maximum temperature touched 41.8 degrees Celsius, 4.6 degrees higher than normal at Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station.
The IMD said heatwave conditions prevailed over the city. The weather office also recorded a temperature of around 50.7 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm.
Delhi last recorded a higher minimum temperature on June 14, 2024, when the mercury had settled at 33.3 degrees Celsius.
Several weather stations across the city reported temperatures above the normal range. The maximum temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius at Palam, 42.1 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 42.6 degrees Celsius at Ridge and 41.8 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar.
Minimum temperatures also remained above normal across all five IMD observatories.
Apart from Safdarjung's 31.1 degrees Celsius, Palam recorded 30 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 30.2 degrees Celsius, Ridge 28.7 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar 29 degrees Celsius. The departure from the seasonal average ranged between 1.4 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar and 3.2 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung and Lodhi Road.
Weather forecasting agency Skymet attributed the unusual heat and humidity to the delayed monsoon onset and the clash between dry and moist winds over the region.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President, Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet, said Delhi usually receives the monsoon around June 27-28, after which temperatures begin to drop while humidity rises.
"Normally, the monsoon reaches Delhi around June 27-28, after which temperatures begin to ease and humidity increases. This year, however, the monsoon is likely to be delayed by about a week. Dry westerly winds from Pakistan are keeping temperatures high, while southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea are also reaching Delhi and increasing humidity," he said.
Furthermore, Palawat explained that clouds generally develop around late afternoon, by which time the day's peak temperature has already been recorded. This has resulted in both high maximum temperatures and unusually high "feel-like" temperatures.
According to him, the monsoon is likely to advance into east Uttar Pradesh by June 30 or July 1, reach Uttarakhand around July 2-3, and enter Delhi around July 4 if weather conditions remain favourable. He added that a small cyclonic circulation could develop in the coming days, potentially triggering isolated spells of rain.
Relative humidity in Delhi was recorded at 44 per cent at 5.30 pm. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms with rain on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to remain around 41 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 162, according to the Sameer app. The Central Pollution Control Board categorises AQI levels between 101 and 200 as moderate.
With the monsoon still delayed, Delhi continued to experience a combination of heatwave conditions, high temperatures and humidity, though rainfall activity is expected on Monday.
