In a clear indicator of worsening summer conditions, the national capital logged its warmest night in the month of May in nearly 14 years. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city’s minimum temperature settled at an unusually high 31.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning.
The last time Delhi witnessed a higher minimum temperature during this month was on May 26, 2012, when the night temperature stood at 32.5 degrees Celsius.
Weather monitoring stations across the national capital region, including the Safdarjung base station and Lodi Road, officially registered “warm night” conditions. Meteorological standards define a warm night when the maximum daytime temperature remains at or above 40 degrees Celsius, and the minimum night temperature departs between 4.5 and 6.4 degrees Celsius above the seasonal normal.
Data provided by the weather office revealed that the Safdarjung station recorded 31.9 degrees Celsius, which is 5.2 notches higher than normal for this time of the year. Other stations followed a similar trajectory: the Ridge station recorded 30.6 degrees Celsius (4.4 notches above normal), Palam noted 30.5 degrees Celsius (3.4 notches above normal), and Lodi Road reached 29.6 degrees Celsius (4.6 notches above normal). Ayanagar remained relatively lower at 27.4 degrees Celsius, merely 0.7 notch above the baseline.
Orange alert issued amid rising daytime temperatures
The ongoing lack of nighttime cooling arrives alongside severe daytime heat. The weather department has placed the city under an “orange alert,” indicating that residents and authorities must remain prepared for extreme conditions. Daytime temperatures are projected to peak around 46 degrees Celsius, with persistent heatwaves forecast throughout the region.
Parallelly, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicated that Delhi’s air quality was in the “moderate” category on Thursday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 153. Under current guidelines, an AQI ranging between 101 and 200 signifies moderate conditions, whereas readings from zero to 50 are considered good.
With dry, hot winds expected to continue across the plains, relief remains unlikely for residents over the coming days.
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