Delhi records hottest day of year at 31.6 degrees Celsius as maximum temperature rises above normal
The IMD said that the Safdarjung observatory, the city's base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 31.6 degrees Celsius, which is 7.2 degrees above normal. The station also noted a sharp 24-hour temperature change of 3.1 degrees, indicating a sudden warm spell affecting the region.
With the end of the winter season, the national capital witnessed a significantly hot day on Monday, recording the hottest day of the year so far, with maximum temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms, while minimum temperatures remained near or below average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Check area-wise temperature in Delhi
The IMD said that the Safdarjung observatory, the city's base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 31.6 degrees Celsius, which is 7.2 degrees above normal. The station also noted a sharp 24-hour temperature change of 3.1 degrees, indicating a sudden warm spell affecting the region.
Similarly, Ayanagar recorded a high of 30.4 degrees Celsius, marking a 7.1 degrees Celsius increase from the seasonal average.
Other stations, including Lodi Road, recorded 29.2 degrees Celsius, which is 5.2 degrees higher, and Ridge recorded 28.4 degrees Celsius, which is 5.3 degrees Celsius higher, also reported above-normal daytime temperatures, the IMD said.
Minimum temperature remain below average
According to IMD, the city saw the minimum temperature remain near or below average. While Palam and Ridge recorded minimums slightly above normal at 11.6 degrees Celsius and 11.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, most other stations saw cooler-than-usual nights.
Ayanagar recorded a low of just 9.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees below normal, and Safdarjung and Lodi Road logged minimums of 10.1 degrees Celsius and 10.4 degrees Celsius, both marginally below the seasonal average.
Delhi's air quality remained poor on Monday
Delhi's air quality remained poor on Monday, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 258, in the 'poor' category as per the Sameer app.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Skymet weather Vice-President Mahesh Palawat noted that Delhi being this hot in mid-February is an unusual phenomenon, as skies are clear due to low wind speed, which leads to bright sunny afternoons and an approaching western disturbance.
"This is going to continue for the next one to two days, and then there is a slight chance of scattered rain in the capital due to the approaching western disturbance. Until then, the minimum temperature is also going to rise," Palawat said, adding that relief may be on the way for Delhi with forecasted rains in the next couple of days.
All five reporting stations - Safdarjung, Palam, Lodi Road, Ridge, and Ayanagar recorded zero rainfall, both in the 24-hour cumulative rainfall up to 8.30 am and in the subsequent period between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.