Delhi is set to experience a surge in temperature with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for a heatwave expected to persist until April 8. With the mercury projected to peak at 42 degrees Celsius by April 7, the Capital is bracing for an early onslaught of intense summer heat, further compounded by dry westerly winds sweeping across the region.
As of Friday, the city’s base weather station at Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4°C, 4.4 degrees above the seasonal average, marking a marginal dip from the 39°C logged a day prior. Although none of the weather stations across Delhi breached the 40°C threshold that day, the Ridge area remained the hottest pocket at 39.4°C, slightly down from the 40.4°C registered earlier. The IMD confirms that any maximum temperature above 40°C, accompanied by a deviation of at least 4.5°C from the normal, qualifies as a heatwave—making Delhi’s current climate a clear signal of what lies ahead.
The city’s minimum temperature too saw an uptick, rising from 15.6°C to a seasonal average of 18.8°C. While winds clocked at a modest 7 km/h on Friday helped suppress peak temperatures temporarily, experts predict the relief will be short-lived. Westerly winds, known to turn warm and dry during peak summer months, are expected to intensify and cause temperatures to soar in the coming days. According to meteorological experts, such conditions significantly increase the likelihood of both widespread and isolated heatwave events, particularly in urban zones where concrete density and limited vegetation amplify the urban heat island effect.
While the rising temperature itself poses significant health risks to vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and outdoor workers, Delhi’s ongoing air quality crisis adds another layer of concern. The Capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 219 on Friday, categorised as ‘poor’, only marginally up from 217 the previous day. Projections by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) suggest a brief improvement to ‘moderate’ air quality by April 5, before conditions likely deteriorate again between April 6 and 7. With increasing temperatures, pollutants tend to remain suspended longer in the air, exacerbating respiratory ailments and undermining public health.
Delhi’s struggle with extreme weather and deteriorating air quality underscores the urgent need for sustainable urban interventions. The convergence of heatwaves and poor air index readings raises important questions about climate resilience, especially in a city grappling with rapid urbanisation, shrinking green cover, and mounting energy consumption. While alerts like IMD’s serve as short-term warnings, the long-term solution lies in reimagining the urban environment—through more equitable access to shaded spaces, public cooling infrastructure, green mobility, and a serious shift toward net-zero emissions.
As the national Capital enters another sweltering summer, it remains to be seen how residents, administrators, and urban planners respond to these pressing environmental challenges. For a city already under climate stress, the next few days are not just a weather forecast—they are a wake-up call.
Delhi prepares for intense heatwave as temperatures rises
