Delhi is bracing for searing temperatures as the mercury is forecast to touch 45°C today, prompting the IMD to issue a yellow alert. After a 17-day break from extreme heat, Sunday saw the maximum temperature rise to 42.1°C, signalling the return of intense heatwave conditions across the region, with more hot and humid days ahead.
The capital’s primary weather station at Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 42.1°C on Sunday, surpassing the 40-degree mark for the first time since May 21. According to officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city’s current surge in temperature is part of a larger North Indian heatwave system that has intensified due to prolonged dry spells and declining moisture levels. Neighbouring states are also grappling with escalating temperatures. Haryana’s Sirsa touched 45.8°C, while Chandigarh saw its highest of the season at 42.1°C. In Rajasthan, heatwave conditions were far more severe, with Sri Ganganagar registering a scorching 47.4°C, the highest in the region.
Experts have linked this spike to a swift transition from unseasonal rainfall to dry continental winds that are pushing daytime temperatures upwards by as much as 6 to 8 degrees in a matter of days. The IMD has cautioned residents of Delhi and adjoining areas to prepare for uncomfortable weather for the next few days, with heat and humidity expected to persist. A yellow alert has been issued for Monday and Tuesday, warning of heatwave conditions at isolated locations across the National Capital Region (NCR). The alert is a call for precaution, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and outdoor workers. “The recent increase in temperatures is primarily due to the absence of thunderstorms or moisture-laden winds since June 4,” said an official. “Until then, moist air from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal had been keeping temperatures under control. But with dry conditions dominating since, the mercury has climbed rapidly.”
In various pockets of Delhi, the heat was even more severe than at Safdarjung. South-west Delhi’s Ayanagar recorded the highest at 44.1°C, followed by Palam at 43.6°C. Ridge in North Delhi saw 42.9°C, while Lodhi Road reached 42.3°C. Peripheral NCR regions like Faridabad (42.2°C), Noida (41.4°C), and Gurgaon (41.5°C) too felt the burn, reinforcing the widespread impact of the rising temperatures. The feel-like temperature — or the heat index — peaked at 47.2°C, significantly amplifying the discomfort. The day’s minimum temperature stood at 27.6°C, with relative humidity fluctuating between 31% and 70%. Officials noted that while Delhi did not technically meet heatwave criteria on Sunday, several surrounding districts in Haryana such as Rohtak and Narnaul did, confirming the onset of extreme weather conditions.
Notably, Delhi did not register a single heatwave day in May despite the usually sweltering pre-monsoon pattern, thanks to intermittent rain and strong winds. April, however, witnessed three heatwave days. The current spike is the sharpest since May 16, when the city recorded its hottest day of the season at 42.3°C. Experts suggest that unless pre-monsoon showers resume, the mercury could breach the 45°C mark this week. Looking ahead, the IMD has extended the yellow alert to Wednesday and Thursday, this time warning not just of heat but also of high humidity, further compounding health risks such as dehydration, heatstroke, and heat-related illnesses. Relief is expected only around June 13, when a new weather system could bring rain and thunderstorms to parts of North India.
According to experts, winds from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to interact and bring rainfall first to eastern Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand starting the night of June 11. This system is expected to expand westward, eventually reaching Delhi between June 12 and June 14, potentially bringing down the soaring temperatures. As Delhi’s urban sprawl continues to expand and its green cover struggles under pressure, the frequency and severity of such extreme temperature events raise deeper concerns. Meteorologists and environmental scientists point to rising global temperatures and unchecked urbanisation as key accelerants of the city’s climate vulnerability. With concrete-dominated landscapes and diminished tree cover, the urban heat island effect is amplifying the impact of heatwaves, making life increasingly difficult, especially for those without access to adequate shelter or cooling.
While short-term forecasts offer some promise of rainfall, long-term mitigation will require Delhi’s civic planners to rethink heat resilience. From redesigning cityscapes with more green buffers and water bodies to implementing rooftop cooling and promoting sustainable construction, systemic adaptation is no longer optional. Until then, the city must brace itself — not just for this week’s soaring mercury but for what may become a regular feature of Delhi summers in the years ahead.
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