Early summer tightens its grip over capital Delhi residents continued to face extreme heat conditions as temperatures soared to 35.6 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather station, on Sunday. This marked a seven-degree rise above the normal temperature for this time of year. The heat intensified further at Ridge Observatory in north Delhi, where temperatures reached 38.9 degrees Celsius, 10 degrees above the average. On Saturday, Safdarjung recorded 35.7 degrees Celsius, the earliest instance in at least 15 years that the temperature exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) since 2011. The heatwave shows no signs of abating, with daytime temperatures expected to remain 5–6 degrees Celsius higher than normal throughout the week. IMD officials noted that persistent clear skies have contributed to the rising temperatures, as Delhi has experienced dry conditions since the last significant rainfall at the end of January. February saw only two instances of light showers, and the absence of an active western disturbance has led to continuous clear skies, driving temperatures upward. A gradual increase in heat is anticipated over the next few days. Minimum temperatures on Sunday were recorded at 16.7 degrees Celsius, three degrees above the seasonal norm, slightly lower than Saturday’s minimum of 17.4 degrees Celsius. Forecasts suggest that nighttime temperatures will remain relatively warm, with minimums likely to stay between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 247 on Sunday.#delhi #india_meteorological_department #safdarjung #ridge_observatory #air_quality_index
