Relief ends as Delhi temperature set to touch 40°C by April 15, says India Meteorological Department

Temperatures in Delhi continued to climb on Saturday, with the city recording a sunny day and a maximum temperature of 34.7°C, bringing an end to the brief relief from a two-day spell of rain. Although still 1.4 degrees below normal, the steady rise is expected to push temperatures close to 40°C by midweek, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

After a decade-low April maximum of 28.2°C on April 8, the Capital saw temperatures rise to 30.8°C on Thursday and 32.8°C on Friday, reflecting a clear warming trend.

The IMD has forecast a gradual increase in maximum temperatures over the next six to seven days, with readings likely to touch 40°C by Wednesday and possibly 41°C by Friday. It added that temperatures, currently below normal, will turn normal within two days and then climb to above-normal levels thereafter.

Minimum temperatures are also set to rise. The city recorded 18.6°C on Saturday — below the normal of 21°C — but this is expected to increase by 1–2°C daily, reaching 23–25°C by Thursday.

Weather experts attribute the rising heat to a lack of weather activity. Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather said dry winds, clear skies, and the absence of cloud cover or rainfall will drive temperatures higher. He also warned that heatwave-like conditions could develop if the mercury crosses 40°C and rises significantly above normal.

Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya noted that as rainfall subsides, temperatures are set to climb steadily, with several regions in north and central India expected to record highs between 42°C and 45°C in the coming days. Delhi and parts of Haryana could see their first 40°C reading of the season around April 17–18.

So far this year, the highest temperature recorded in the Capital stands at 36.8°C. In comparison, April last year saw more intense early heat, with temperatures crossing 40°C by the first week and peaking at 41°C, accompanied by a brief heatwave spell.

For Sunday, the IMD has forecast mainly clear skies with sustained surface winds of 15–25 kmph, gusting up to 35 kmph during the day.

Air quality showed slight improvement, with the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 123 — in the “moderate” category — according to the Central Pollution Control Board. However, forecasts suggest air quality may fluctuate between “moderate” and “poor” over the next six days, with little likelihood of relief from weather disturbances.