Delhi sizzles at 42.8°C as heatwave tightens its grip
Delhi sizzles at 42.8°C as heatwave tightens its grip
Delhi hits 42.8°C—the hottest day of the year so far, with yellow alerts and a forecast of rain later in the week.
Delhi baked under a blistering heat on Saturday, with Safdarjung recording the year's highest maximum at 42.8°C, about 5.1 degrees above normal. The day underscored the city’s ongoing heatwave conditions, with a yellow alert in place for Sunday as authorities warned residents to stay hydrated and limit outdoor work. The India Meteorological Department defines a heatwave when the maximum temperature is 40°C or higher and 4.5–6.4°C above normal, a benchmark Delhi crossed with Saturday’s reading.
Across the city, other stations logged scorching figures as well. Lodhi Road reported 42.6°C, about 5.6°C above normal, while Ridge registered a minimum temperature of 44.5°C, 6.1°C above normal. Ayanagar logged 43.2°C, continuing the trend of extreme heat across the capital. These measurements helped seal the sense that the heatwave was spreading across multiple monitoring sites rather than being confined to a single location.
IMD officials noted that heatwaves are declared when at least two stations meet the required criteria, and the latest readings signaled the pattern had continued into the current spell. The city previously saw a heatwave designation on Thursday when conditions were met at fewer than two stations, but by Saturday the accumulation across several stations confirmed ongoing heat stress. This is the hottest maximum Delhi has seen in the last four years, the year’s peak so far and a reminder of the intensifying heat the megacity is facing.
Forecasters expect some relief later in the week, with rain forecast from Monday to Wednesday, offering a potential respite from the sweltering conditions. In the meantime, officials urged residents to limit outdoor exposure during peak sun hours, stay indoors where possible, and ensure adequate hydration and cooling strategies for the vulnerable populations, especially the elderly and children.
