Delhi Weather Update Today: Delhi continued to swelter on Wednesday as the mercury crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark, with the maximum temperature recorded at 40.7°C. The scorching conditions have prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to revise its heatwave warning, indicating that heatwave conditions are now expected on Friday and Saturday.
At the primary base station, Safdarjung, the maximum temperature was 40.7°C, about 3 degrees above the seasonal average. This was a noticeable rise from Tuesday, when the city recorded 38.8°C at the same station. Elsewhere in the capital, conditions were even more intense. The Ridge station in north Delhi reported the highest temperature at 42.1°C, making it the hottest location in the city.
It was followed closely by Ayanagar in southwest Delhi, which recorded 41.4°C.
According to a Met official, temperatures are expected to rise gradually over the coming days before stabilising. “A gradual rise by 2-3 degrees is likely in the maximum temperature during the next three days, followed by no significant change thereafter. Maximum temperatures are expected to remain above normal to appreciably above normal over the next five days,” the official stated.
The IMD has forecast daytime temperatures of around 41-43°C on Thursday, rising to 42-44°C on Friday and Saturday. In light of these projections, a yellow alert has been issued for isolated heatwave conditions in parts of the city.
As per IMD classification, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40°C and is 4.5°C or more above the normal level. Alternatively, a heatwave is also recorded when the temperature touches or exceeds 45°C.
According to a report in The Times Of India, so far this April, Delhi has not recorded any heatwave day. In comparison, the city experienced three heatwave days during the second week of April in 2025, while 2024 and 2023 also saw no such instances. In 2022, however, the capital endured a significantly harsher spell with 11 heatwave days recorded in April alone.
While daytime temperatures continue to rise, the minimum temperature on Wednesday settled at 21.6°C, which is about one degree below the seasonal average. However, a warming trend is expected in the coming days, with minimum temperatures likely to climb to around 27°C by Sunday.
Alongside rising temperatures, Delhi’s air quality also saw a decline. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 216, categorising it as ‘poor’, compared to 177 recorded on Tuesday. Forecasts suggest that air quality is likely to remain in the poor category on Thursday and may improve slightly to the ‘moderate’ range by Friday.
